North Karelia (or Northern Karelia, ; ) 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 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.

thumb|left|View from a hill in [[Koli National Park, the most famous tourist attraction in North Karelia]]

History

The borders of remote North Karelia were formed gradually. Important border foundations were the Treaty of Stolbovo (1617) for the eastern border and the Treaty of Teusina (1595) for the western border. The border was finally established in the Treaty of Nystad (1721), where North Karelia was separated from the "other Karelias" that remained on Russia's side.

Regional identity began to form gradually in the 18th century. In 1767, the häradshövding (judge) used the name Pohjois-Karjala (North Karelia). The residents also called themselves the men of the province and drew up their own regulations in Finnish for the border guard, showing their separateness. Administratively, North Karelia belonged to different counties in the 18th century, but it had its own "North Karelia county". This self-administration set it apart from other regions. The separation was further strengthened when North Karelia was formed into its own province in 1960. North Karelia became its own region in 1994. Instead, North Karelia province was abolished in 1997 and its functions were transferred to the Eastern Finland province. Fighting in Ilomantsi took place during both the Winter War (1939 Battle of Ilomantsi) and the Continuation War (1944 Battle of Ilomantsi). The latter was the final battle of the Continuation War and ended with a Finnish victory.

Historical province

Heraldry

The coat of arms of North Karelia is composed of the arms of Karelia.

Municipalities

The region of North Karelia consists of three sub-regions and 13 municipalities, five of which have city status (marked in bold).

Municipalities on the map

Sub-regions

Joensuu sub-region

  • 15px|link=Heinävesi Heinävesi
  • 15px|link=Ilomantsi Ilomantsi (Ilomants)
  • 15px|link=Joensuu Joensuu
  • 15px|link=Juuka Juuka (Juga)
  • 15px|link=Kontiolahti Kontiolahti (Kontiolax)
  • 15px|link=Liperi Liperi (Libelits)
  • 15px|link=Outokumpu Outokumpu
  • 15px|link=Polvijärvi Polvijärvi

Central Karelia sub-region

  • 15px|link=Kitee Kitee (Kides)
  • 15px|link=Rääkkylä Rääkkylä
  • 15px|link=Tohmajärvi Tohmajärvi

Pielinen Karelia sub-region

  • 15px|link=Lieksa Lieksa
  • 15px|link=Nurmes Nurmes

List of municipalities

thumb|[[Karelian Pie]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align: right; line-height: normal"

|-

! class="unsortable" |Coat of<br/>arms

! Municipality

! Population

! Land area<br/>(km<sup>2</sup>)

! Density<br/>(/km<sup>2</sup>)

! Finnish<br/>speakers

! Swedish<br/>speakers

! Other<br/>speakers

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Heinävesi|| Heinävesi || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|coat of arms of Ilomantsi|| Ilomantsi || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Joensuu|| Joensuu || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Juuka|| Juuka || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|coat of arms of Kitee|| Kitee || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Kontiolahti|| Kontiolahti || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Lieksa|| Lieksa || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Liperi|| Liperi || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Nurmes|| Nurmes || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|coat of arms of Outokumpu|| Outokumpu || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Polvijärvi|| Polvijärvi || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Rääkkylä|| Rääkkylä || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

|50px|border|Coat of arms of Tohmajärvi|| Tohmajärvi || || ||

|| &nbsp;% || &nbsp;% || &nbsp;%

|-

!!!+ style=text-align:right | Total !!+ style=text-align:right | !!+ style=text-align:right | !!+ style=text-align:right |

!!+ style=text-align:right | &nbsp;%

!!+ style=text-align:right | &nbsp;%

!!+ style=text-align:right | &nbsp;%

|}

Education

Institutions of higher education in North Karelia include:

  • University of Eastern Finland
  • North Karelia University of Applied Sciences
  • Riveria Vocational Education and Training

Demographics

Politics

For parliamentary elections, North Karelia, together with the region of North Savo, is part of the Savo-Karelia constituency. As of 2023, the constituency elects 15 of the 200 members of the Parliament of Finland.

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.

References

  • North Karelia
  • Visitkarelia.fi - Information about travel, tourism and other fields in North Karelia
  • Video about travelling in North Karelia