Kuopio

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Kuopio City, Eastern Finland
City
Kuopion kaupunki
Kuopio stad
Kuopio viewed from the Puijo Tower
Kuopio viewed from the Puijo Tower
Coat of arms of Kuopio City, Eastern Finland
Coat of arms
150px
Country  Finland
Region Northern Savonia
Sub-region Kuopio sub-region
Settled 1653
Charter 1775
Government
 • City manager Petteri Paronen
Area (2011-01-01)[1]
 • Total 2,317.24 km2 (894.69 sq mi)
 • Land 1,597.39 km2 (616.76 sq mi)
 • Water 719.85 km2 (277.94 sq mi)
Area rank 32nd largest in Finland
Population (2016-03-31)[2]
 • Total 112,158
 • Rank 9th largest in Finland
 • Density 70.21/km2 (181.8/sq mi)
Population by native language[3]
 • Finnish 97.8% (official)
 • Swedish 0.1%
 • Others 2.1%
Population by age[4]
 • 0 to 14 15.6%
 • 15 to 64 68.9%
 • 65 or older 15.4%
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code FI-00100
Municipal tax rate[5] 19.5%
Website www.kuopio.fi

Kuopio is a city and a municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia, Finland. A population of 112,158[2] makes it the eighth biggest city in the country. The city has a total area of 2,317.24 square kilometres (894.69 sq mi), of which 719.85 km2 (277.94 sq mi) is water[1] and half forest. The population density is only 70/km2 (180/sq mi), but the city's urban areas are populated very densely (urban area: 1 617.6 /km²[6]), nationally second only to capital Helsinki (urban area: 1,690.0/km²[6]).[7] The population of the entire Kuopio region is 119,472.[8]

The town of Nilsiä joined Kuopio at the beginning of the year 2013 and Kuopio’s population surpassed the 100,000 mark.

Name

There are several explanations behind the name Kuopio. The first is that in the 16th century, a certain influential person named Kauhanen in Tavinsalmi changed his name to Skopa and the people's pronunciation was Coopia and finally Cuopio. The second explanation is that it comes from the verb kuopia, meaning "paw", as when a horse paws the ground with its hoof. A third theory is that it came from a certain Karelian man's name Prokopij, from Ruokolahti in the Middle Ages.[9] This is the most probable explanation, supported by the Research Institute for the Languages of Finland.

History

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Kuopio was founded in 1653 by Governor Peter Brahe, but the official date is recognized as November 17, 1775, when King Gustav III of Sweden ordered the establishment of the city of Kuopio. The municipality of Karttula joined the city of Kuopio in 2011,[10] like did Vehmersalmi in 2005, Riistavesi in 1973 and Kuopion maalaiskunta in 1969.

File:Kallavesi.png
Kuopio is almost completely surrounded by lake Kallavesi.

Geography

The city is surrounded by Lake Kallavesi, and several parts of it are built on islands. Kuopio's ample waterfronts and islands are also utilized in the Saaristokaupunki (lit. Archipelago city) -project, the biggest residential area currently being built in Finland.[11] Saaristokaupunki will accommodate a total of 14,000 inhabitants in 2015. All houses will be situated no more than 500 metres (1,600 ft) from the nearest lakeshore.[12]

Transport

The city has a nationally unique feature in its street network, where every second street is practically a pedestrian and cycle street,[13] so called "rännikatu" (from Swedish gränd, alley). These streets provide pedestrians a calm environment aside from the main street traffic.[14] This setup dates back all the way to 1776 and the first town plan by Pehr Kjellman. Originally rännikatu, gränd (in Swedish) were created as a fire barrier to prevent a possible fire escalating in a city mostly built with wood.[15]

Kuopio is located along the Blue Highway, which is an international tourist route from Mo i Rana, Norway to Pudozh, Russia via Sweden.

Transport connections to Kuopio include Pendolino trains and air service from Kuopio Airport with Finnair, Blue1 and Finncomm (domestic, to Helsinki-Vantaa)

Education and business

File:Technology Centre Teknia Ltd Microteknia area.jpg
Technology centre Technopolis Kuopio is situated in Kuopio Science Park.
Higher Education in Kuopio
University Students
University of Eastern Finland 6 229[16]
Savonia University of Applied Sciences 5 000[17]
HUMAK University of Applied Sciences ~150
Sibelius Academy ~100


Kuopio has always been a city of education. Some of the first schools offering education in Finnish (such as the School for the Blind in 1871, and the Trade School in 1887) were established in Kuopio. Currently the most important institutions are the University of Eastern Finland, the Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Vocational College of Northern Savonia and the Kuopio department of the Sibelius Academy.

Kuopio is known as a strong center of health (e.g. it has the biggest yearly enrollment rate of medical students in Finland), pharmacy, environment, food & nutrition (all legalized Clinical and Public Health Nutritionists in Finland graduate from the University of Eastern Finland), safety (education in Emergency Services is centered in Kuopio[18]) and welfare professions, as the major organisations University of Kuopio (now part of the University of Eastern Finland since January 2010.[19]), Savonia University of Applied Sciences and Technopolis Kuopio are particularly oriented to those areas.

There are about 4,200 enterprises in Kuopio,[20] of which approximately 180 are export companies.[21] These provide about 45,000 jobs.[21]

People and culture

File:Kuopion museo 2012.jpg
Kuopio Museum in a National Romantic style building

Kuopio is known as the cultural center of Eastern Finland. A wide range of musical (from kindergarten to doctorate-level studies) and dance education is available and the cultural life is active. Notable events include ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival, Kuopio Dance Festival, Kuopio Rockcock, Kuopio Wine Festival, Kuopio Marathon and Finland Ice Marathon in winter. A notable place, however, to enjoy the local flavor of Kuopio life and food is Sampo, a fish restaurant loved by locals and tourists as well.

Kuopio is known for its association with a national delicacy, Finnish fish pastry (Kalakukko), and the dialect of Savo, as well as the hill of Puijo and the Puijo tower. Besides being a very popular outdoor recreation area, Puijo serves also as a stage for a yearly World Cup ski jumping competition.

In inhabitants of Kuopio have a special reputation: they are known as jovial and verbally joking.[citation needed] Within the Savo culture, the onus is placed on the listener to interpret the story. People of the Kuopio region and Eastern Finland have always had many health problems and the mortality has been higher than on an average in Finland. Because of this, Eastern Finland has been a hotspot for Public Health studies. The North Karelia Project by the University of Kuopio in coordination with the National Public Health Institute and the World Health Organization, beginning in the 1970s was one of its first steps towards world class research.[citation needed]

During the 2000s (decade), Kuopio has placed very well in a number image, popularity and city-attractiveness surveys. In 2007 it was placed third, behind Tampere and Oulu.

File:Kuopio Market Square2.jpg
Kuopio Market Place with the Market Hall in foreground and the City Hall in the background

Religion

File:Kuopio, Kuopio Cathedral.JPG
Kuopio Cathedral

The largest church of Finland, Evangelical Lutheran Church has a diocese in Kuopio, which is shepherded by bishop Jari Jolkkonen.[22]

Kuopio is home of the Finnish Orthodox Church where its primate, archbishop of Karelia and all Finland Leo (Makkonen) is seated. This is an autocephalous jurisdiction affiliated with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. It is the only mainstream Orthodox faction to celebrate Easter on the Latin date. The late Archbishop Paul had been successful in producing literature of popular theology. The city is also the location of RIISA- Orthodox Church Museum of Finland.

Kuopio has also an Islamic mosque.[23] Muslims from various parts of the world and certain Finnish Muslims are living in Kuopio.

The town is also home to the first Burmese Buddhist monastery in Finland, named the Buddha Dhamma Ramsi monastery.[24]

Climate

Kuopio
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
41
 
 
−6
−13
 
 
31
 
 
−6
−13
 
 
34
 
 
0
−8
 
 
32
 
 
6
−3
 
 
39
 
 
14
4
 
 
65
 
 
19
10
 
 
77
 
 
21
13
 
 
80
 
 
19
11
 
 
59
 
 
12
6
 
 
53
 
 
6
2
 
 
51
 
 
0
−5
 
 
46
 
 
−4
−10
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: World Meteorological Organization

Kuopio falls in the subarctic climate zone (Köppen "Dfc"), closely bordering on continental due to its warm summers. Winters are long and cold, with average highs staying below freezing from November until March, and summers are short and relatively mild. Most precipitation occurs in the late summer and early fall.

Climate data for Kuopio
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −6.0
(21.2)		 −5.7
(21.7)		 −0.2
(31.6)		 6.4
(43.5)		 14.1
(57.4)		 18.9
(66)		 21.8
(71.2)		 18.9
(66)		 13.0
(55.4)		 6.3
(43.3)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 −3.9
(25)		 6.96
(44.51)
Average low °C (°F) −12.6
(9.3)		 −13.0
(8.6)		 −8.0
(17.6)		 −2.2
(28)		 4.3
(39.7)		 10.3
(50.5)		 13.6
(56.5)		 11.7
(53.1)		 7.0
(44.6)		 2.1
(35.8)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 −9.7
(14.5)		 −0.05
(31.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 48
(1.89)		 36
(1.42)		 36
(1.42)		 30
(1.18)		 46
(1.81)		 67
(2.64)		 80
(3.15)		 75
(2.95)		 53
(2.09)		 56
(2.2)		 52
(2.05)		 51
(2.01)		 630
(24.81)
Average precipitation days 11 9 9 7 9 10 11 11 10 11 11 11 120
Source: Finnish Meteorological Institute [25]

Notable people

Sports in Kuopio

File:Kuopio PuijoTower 01.jpg
Puijo Ski Jumps with the Observation Tower in the background

Kuopio bid for the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics, a youth sports festival in the tradition of the Olympics. It became a finalist in November 2008, but ultimately lost to Innsbruck, Austria. Kuopio's image as a small city with a large University and many active young people was considered a model of what the International Olympic Committee seeks for the Games.[26]

International relations

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kuopio is twinned with:

References

Notes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Kuopion Kaupunkilehti, 19 March 2008, bottom of page 4)
  9. ↑ [1] Archived 26 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Emergency Services College
  19. ↑ Steps leading to the establishment of the UEF
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Innsbruck and Kuopio Make Final Shortlist For 2012 Youth Olympic Winter Games
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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