Vuokatti, in west of Sotkamo, is the most populous village in the municipality and also a popular skiing resort.

Sotkamo has grown beside a water route formed by a continuous band of lakes and rivers.

The same water route has been used by soldiers of Russia, Sweden and Denmark to rob and ravage this remote countryside for centuries.

During the 19th century Sotkamo was visited by notable Finnish artists such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Hugo Simberg.

On November 17, 2007 first pictures of the Kern arc were made in the town of Sotkamo by Marko Mikkilä.