Pudasjärvi () is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region, northeast of the city of Oulu and southwest of the town of Kuusamo. The town has a population of ()

Two Finnish melodic death metal bands, Kalmah and Eternal Tears of Sorrow formed in Pudasjärvi.

The Big Dipper and the bear of the Pudasjärvi's coat of arms are based on the old seal of the parish keeper. The coat of arms was designed by Gustaf von Numers, and the Pudasjärvi town council approved it at its meeting on August 2, 1950. The Ministry of the Interior approved the coat of arms for use on September 26 of the same year.

Pudasjärvi has been compared to the city of Roswell, New Mexico due to its UFO sightings; many sightings were made in the municipality and its surrounding areas in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

History

Pudasjärvi town was named after the Pudasjärvi village, which was named after the Pudasjärvi lake, meaning "Anabranch Lake". However, the original Pudasjärvi village is no longer the center of the town. The current center is known as Kurenalus. As people have started calling the center Kurenalus with the name "Pudasjärvi", the original Pudasjärvi village has gained the additional name Riekinranta.

Climate

Pudasjärvi has a subarctic climate (Köppen: Dfc) with long, cold winters and short, mild summers.

Politics

Results of the 2023 Finnish parliamentary election in Pudasjärvi:

  • Centre Party 50.5%
  • Finns Party 25.2%
  • Social Democratic Party 7.4%
  • Left Alliance 5.3%
  • National Coalition Party 4.6%
  • Christian Democrats 2.0%
  • Freedom Alliance 1.6%
  • Green League 1.4%
  • Movement Now 1.4%

See also

  • Kouva
  • Pudasjärvi Airfield
  • UFOs of Pudasjärvi

References

  • Town of Pudasjärvi – Official site