Toppilansalmi "the strait of Toppila" was born in 1724, when a massive autumn flood burst a new, deep outlet from the river to the sea. The Oulu port was moved here, and the Oulu Merchants’ Guild established a tar trading centre on the north-eastern bank of the strait. This is where the tar produced along the Oulu River was collected and shipped out around the world. Good traffic connections along with industrialisation led to sawmills, milling plants and a cellulose factory being built around the port. Port activity here ended in 2010, and the district has changed into a residential area.