SafekipediaNorth Karelia
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
North Karelia, also called Northern Karelia, is a region in eastern Finland. It is next to the regions of Kainuu, North Savo, South Savo, and South Karelia. It also has a long border with Russia's Republic of Karelia. The city of Joensuu is the capital and biggest city there.
In the past, North Karelia had more health problems than other parts of Finland, especially with heart disease. But in 1972, people in the region started a special project to get healthier. Their work helped many people live better lives, and this success is still remembered and admired today. North Karelia is also known for being a friendly place where people like to help each other.
History
The borders of North Karelia changed over many years. Important agreements like the Treaty of Stolbovo in 1617 and the Treaty of Nystad in 1721 helped decide its edges. By the 1700s, people in North Karelia started to see themselves as a special group. They made their own rules and had their own local government.
During World War II, North Karelia had some fighting. The first shots of the Winter War were fired in Lieksa in 1939. Later, in 1944, a big battle happened in Ilomantsi, marking the end of the Continuation War.
Historical province
For history, geography and culture, see Karelia.
Heraldry
Main article: Coat of arms of the Province of Karelia
The coat of arms of North Karelia comes from the arms of Karelia.
Municipalities
North Karelia has three smaller parts and 13 municipalities. Five of these are cities, and they are shown in bold.
| Coat of arms | Municipality | Population | Land area (km2) | Density (/km2) | Finnish speakers | Swedish speakers | Other speakers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Heinävesi | 2,888 | 1,030 | 3 | 94 % | 0 % | 5 % |
 | Ilomantsi | 4,293 | 2,763 | 2 | 94 % | 0.2 % | 5 % |
 | Joensuu | 79,129 | 2,382 | 33 | 91 % | 0.1 % | 9 % |
 | Juuka | 4,059 | 1,502 | 3 | 96 % | 0 % | 4 % |
 | Kitee | 9,397 | 1,254 | 7 | 91 % | 0 % | 9 % |
 | Kontiolahti | 15,060 | 800 | 19 | 98 % | 0 % | 2 % |
 | Lieksa | 9,846 | 3,418 | 3 | 93 % | 0 % | 7 % |
 | Liperi | 11,980 | 727 | 16 | 97 % | 0 % | 3 % |
 | Nurmes | 8,760 | 2,401 | 4 | 96 % | 0 % | 4 % |
 | Outokumpu | 6,365 | 446 | 14 | 92 % | 0 % | 8 % |
 | Polvijärvi | 3,942 | 805 | 5 | 98 % | 0 % | 2 % |
 | Rääkkylä | 1,830 | 428 | 4 | 95 % | 0 % | 5 % |
 | Tohmajärvi | 3,869 | 838 | 5 | 93 % | 0 % | 6 % |
| Total | 161,418 | 18,347 | 9 | 93 % | 0.1 % | 7 % |
Education
North Karelia has several places where students can go to learn after high school. One of them is the University of Eastern Finland. There is also a school called the North Karelia University of Applied Sciences, and another one named Riveria Vocational Education and Training. These schools help people study different subjects and get ready for jobs.
Demographics
North Karelia is a region in Finland. It is home to many people who speak Finnish and Estonian. The area has forests and lakes, making it a beautiful place to live.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1990 | |
| 1995 | |
| 2000 | |
| 2005 | |
| 2010 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2020 | |
| 2025 |
Politics
North Karelia and the region of North Savo work together for elections. They choose 15 of the 200 members who serve in the Parliament of Finland.
In popular culture
The song "Pohjois-Karjala" ("North Karelia") by the Finnish pop rock band Leevi and the Leavings is about a man who lives in a big city but dreams of returning to his home in North Karelia. The song is very popular in the area and many people love it.
Images
Related articles
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