Risudden (Finnish: Vitsaniemi, Meänkieli: Vittaniemi) is a village on the banks of the Torne River. It has 63 inhabitants.

At Risudden, the Torne River is so wide that it looks more like a lake than a river. At low tide, several sandbanks are formed all the way to the middle of the river, which become nice beaches during the summer. Downstream of this "lake", the river becomes more turbulent. Vuentoforsen is just south of Risudden.

Vitsa and vitta are the Finnish and Meänkieli words for "to widen". Niemi means headland. The village received its Swedish name Risudden when the railway was established and all stations were given Swedish names. The railway service ended in 1984 and the track was torn up in 1992, but the railway bank remains as a riding and hiking trail along the river.

The Torne Valley is a vast area encompassing parts of Sweden, Finland and Sápmi through which the Torne River flows. Archaeological excavations show that people have lived here since the end of the Ice Age, 11,000 years ago. 

The modern story of Tornedalen is one where languages have been suppressed, borders drawn and the landscape drastically changed. It is also a rich cultural history, with literature and art from lives lived in-tune with a shifting and demanding environment.

When you visit us, you’ll get the bigger picture and the many stories Tornedalen has to tell.