Suomussalmi
Suomussalmi (Finnish: [ˈs̠uo̞̯mus̠ˌs̠ɑlmi]) is a municipality in Finland and is located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of 7,644 (31 July 2020)[2] and covers an area of 5,857.60 square kilometres (2,261.63 sq mi) of which 587.03 km2 (226.65 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 1.45 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.8/sq mi). The municipality is unilingually Finnish. Ämmänsaari is the biggest built-up area in the municipality.
Suomussalmi | |
---|---|
Municipality | |
Suomussalmen kunta Suomussalmi kommun | |
An aerial view of Ämmänsaari, an administrative center of Suomussalmi | |
Coat of arms | |
Location of Suomussalmi in Finland | |
Coordinates: 64°53′N 028°55′E | |
Country | Finland |
Region | Kainuu |
Sub-region | Kehys-Kainuu sub-region |
Charter | 1867 |
Seat | Ämmänsaari |
Government | |
• Municipal manager | Erno Heikkinen |
Area (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 5,857.60 km2 (2,261.63 sq mi) |
• Land | 5,270.56 km2 (2,034.97 sq mi) |
• Water | 587.03 km2 (226.65 sq mi) |
Area rank | 9th largest in Finland |
Population (2020-07-31)[2] | |
• Total | 7,644 |
• Rank | 129th largest in Finland |
• Density | 1.45/km2 (3.8/sq mi) |
Population by native language | |
• Finnish | 98.7% (official) |
• Others | 1.3% |
Population by age | |
• 0 to 14 | 12.7% |
• 15 to 64 | 63% |
• 65 or older | 24.3% |
Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) |
Municipal tax rate[5] | 19.5% |
Website | www.suomussalmi.fi |
Suomussalmi is the second southernmost part of the reindeer-herding area in Finland.
During the Winter War of 1939–40, several battles were fought in the area around Suomussalmi, the most important ones being the Battle of Suomussalmi and the Battle of Raate. In these battles Finnish forces defeated numerically superior Soviet forces.
Formula One racing driver Heikki Kovalainen is from Suomussalmi, as well as the author Ilmari Kianto and the composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä, in addition to the ice hockey player, Janne Pesonen.[6]
Suomussalmi hosted the 2016 World Berry Picking Championship.[7]
Politics
Results of the 2011 Finnish parliamentary election in Suomussalmi:
- Left Alliance 36.3%
- Centre Party 30.9%
- Finns Party 20.5%
- National Coalition Party 5.2%
- Social Democratic Party 3.1%
- Christian Democrats 2.3%
- Green League 0.9%
- Other parties 0.8%
People
- K. J. Ståhlberg (1865–1952)
- Hannes Tauriainen (1909–1971)
- Alho Alhoniemi (born 1933)
- Toini Gustafsson (born 1938)
- Matti Makkonen (1952–2015)
- Osmo Tapio Räihälä (born 1964)
- Tero Penttilä (born 1975)
- Merja Kyllönen (born 1977)
- Heikki Kovalainen (born 1981)
- Janne Pesonen (born 1982)
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Suomussalmi is twinned with:
- Kalevala, Russia
- Nordmaling Municipality, Sweden
References
- "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- "Suomen virallinen tilasto (SVT): Väestön ennakkotilasto [verkkojulkaisu]. Heinäkuu 2020" (in Finnish). Statistics Finland. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- "Population according to language and the number of foreigners and land area km2 by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
- "Population according to age and gender by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
- "List of municipal and parish tax rates in 2011". Tax Administration of Finland. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- Ask the expert - Heikki Kovalainen Formula1.com
- C.G. (11 October 2017). "Explaining the Finnish love of tango". The Economist.
External links
Media related to Suomussalmi at Wikimedia Commons
- Municipality of Suomussalmi – Official website