North Karelia
North Karelia
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Region of North Karelia Pohjois-Karjalan maakunta Landskapet Norra Karelen | |
Coordinates: 63°00′N 30°00′E / 63.000°N 30.000°E | |
Country | Finland |
Historical province | Karelia |
Capital | Joensuu |
Area | |
• Total | 21,584.41 km2 (8,333.79 sq mi) |
Population (2019) | |
• Total | 161,211 |
• Density | 7.5/km2 (19/sq mi) |
GDP | |
• Total | €4.814 billion (2015) |
• Per capita | €29,174 (2015) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
ISO 3166 code | FI-13 |
NUTS | 133 |
Regional animal | Brown bear |
Regional bird | Cuckoo |
Regional fish | Lake salmon |
Regional flower | Prickly rose |
Regional stone | Soapstone |
Regional lake | Lake Pielinen |
Website | pohjois-karjala.fi |
North Karelia (or Northern Karelia, Finnish: Pohjois-Karjala; Swedish: Norra Karelen) is a region in eastern Finland. It borders the regions of Kainuu, North Savo, South Savo and South Karelia, as well as Russia's Republic of Karelia. It is the easternmost region of Finland and shares a 300 kilometres (190 mi) border with Russia. The city of Joensuu is the capital and the largest settlement of the region.
North Karelia has successfully reduced chronic diseases through public health measures. In the 1960s Finland led industrialized nations in heart disease mortality rates; North Karelia had Finland's highest incidence. In 1972 a long-term project was undertaken which targeted this risk in North Karelia. The resulting improvement in public health is still considered remarkable, a model for the rest of the nation. North Karelia is also known as the most sociable region in Finland.
Historical province
Municipalities
The region of North Karelia is made up of 13 municipalities, of which five have city status (marked in bold).
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Heraldry
The coat of arms of North Karelia is composed of the arms of Karelia.
Education
Institutions of higher education in North Karelia include:
- University of Eastern Finland
- North Karelia University of Applied Sciences
- Riveria Vocational Education and Training
Politics
Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in North Karelia:
- Centre Party 24.46%
- Social Democratic Party 21.41%
- Finns Party 18.83%
- Green League 9.93%
- National Coalition Party 9.01%
- Christian Democrats 6.68%
- Left Alliance 5.26%
- Blue Reform 2.24%
- Movement Now 0.96%
- Seven Star Movement 0.21%
- Other parties 1.01%
In popular culture
The song "Pohjois-Karjala" ("North Karelia") by the Finnish pop rock band Leevi and the Leavings tells the story of an urban man who dreams of returning to his native region of North Karelia. It has become such a big hit in North Karelia that it is almost perceived as a regional song.