Nurmes is a town and municipality of Finland, located in the county of North Karelia. The town has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . Neighbouring municipalities are Juuka, Kuhmo, Lieksa, Rautavaara, Sotkamo and Valtimo. Nurmes railway station is the northern terminus of a twice-daily VR passenger train service from Joensuu. The service has been under threat of closure but is currently part of rail services that the Ministry of Transport and Communications requires VR to run in exchange for its monopoly on more attractive routes. The agreement is currently valid through 2030. Karelian village and spa hotel Break Sokos Hotel Bomba are situated in Nurmes. Bomba Karelian Village is a tourist destination for Karelian construction and food culture and traditions. Hotel Hyvärilä Youth and Holiday Centre, and Pielis-Golf golf course are located near the Bomba area. Karelian nest The municipality is officially unilingually Finnish, but in 2009, Finland's first Karelian language "nest" (pre-school immersion group) was established in Nurmes. Geography Nurmes is located in Finnish Karelia on the shore of lake Pielinen, next to the counties of Kainuu and Northern Savonia. The nearest major cities by road are Kuopio (128 km), Joensuu (127 km) and Kajaani (113 km) where the nearest airports are located. The railway from Nurmes to Joensuu is 160 km and runs through Lieksa. Helsinki is 518 kilometers by road and can be reached by rail by changing from train from Joensuu. Nurmes is close to Tahko Tourist Center (93 km), Vuokatti Ski Resort (88 km), Koli National Park (78 km), Tiilikkajärvi National Park (56 km) and Hiidenportti National Park (44 km). Nurmes experiences a continental climate with four seasons. Winters are cold and the average temperature from November to March is below -5 °C. On average, the snow season lasts 4–5 months from November to April. North Karelia is one of the snowiest regions in Finland, with a typical March snow depth of more than 50 cm. During the darkest time of the year, the sun is above the horizon for about four hours. Summers are cool to warm and temperatures change very rapidly during the summer. During the brightest time of the year, the sun is above the horizon for about 20 hours. The nature of Nurmes is characterized by hilly landscapes, forests and lakes. There are 409 lakes in Nurmes. The largest