Savonlinna(UK:/ˌsɑːvɒnˈlɪnə/,[7]Finnish:[ˈsɑʋonˌlinːɑ],lit. 'Castle ofSavonia';Swedish:Nyslott,lit. 'New Castle') is atowninFinland,located in the eastern interior of the country. It lies in theFinnish Lakeland,theSouth Savoregion. The population of Savonlinna is approximately 32,000, while thesub-regionhas a population of approximately 39,000. It is the 36th most populousmunicipalityin Finland.
Savonlinna
Nyslott | |
|---|---|
| Savonlinnan kaupunki Nyslotts stad | |
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: Capital of Saimaa[1] | |
 Location of Savonlinna inFinland | |
| Coordinates:61°52′05″N028°53′10″E/ 61.86806°N 28.88611°E | |
| Country |  Finland |
| Region | Southern Savonia |
| Sub-region | Savonlinna sub-region |
| Charter | 1639 |
| Government | |
| •Town manager | Janne Laine |
| Area (2018-01-01)[2] | |
• Total | 3,597.70 km2(1,389.08 sq mi) |
| • Land | 2,237.87 km2(864.05 sq mi) |
| • Water | 762.62 km2(294.45 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 27th largestin Finland |
| Population (2024-10-31)[3] | |
• Total | 31,597 |
| • Rank | 36th largestin Finland |
| • Density | 14.12/km2(36.6/sq mi) |
| Population by native language | |
| •Finnish | 95% (official) |
| •Swedish | 0.1% |
| • Others | 4.8% |
| Population by age | |
| • 0 to 14 | 11.6% |
| • 15 to 64 | 55.6% |
| • 65 or older | 32.8% |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00(EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00(EEST) |
| Website | www |
Savonlinna is located in the heart of theSaimaaLakeland, which is why it is also known as the "Capital of Saimaa".[1]Together withMikkeli,they are the two largest towns in the South Savo region and both are centres of the region'shospital districts.Savonlinna enclaves the municipality ofEnonkoski.
Savonlinna is internationally known for its medievalSt. Olaf's Castleand the annualSavonlinna Opera Festival.
History
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The city was founded in 1639, based onOlavinlinnacastle (St. Olaf's Castle). The castle was founded byErik Axelsson Tottin 1475 in an effort to protectSavoniaand to control the unstable border between the Kingdom ofSwedenand itsRussianadversary. During theRusso-Swedish War (1741–1743),the castle was captured by Field-MarshalPeter Lacy.It was held by Russia between 1743 and 1812, when it was granted back to Finland as a part of "Old Finland".
In 1973 the municipality ofSääminkiwas consolidated with Savonlinna. In the beginning of year 2009 the municipality ofSavonrantaand a 31.24 km2(12.06 sq mi) land strip fromEnonkoskibetween Savonlinna and Savonranta were consolidated with Savonlinna. In the beginning of the year 2013, the municipalities ofKerimäkiandPunkaharjuwere consolidated with Savonlinna.
Attractions
editThe most notable attraction in Savonlinna is theOlavinlinnacastle, a 15th-century castle built on an island. Near the castle is also the Savonlinna regional museum. Some other attractions include the forest museumLustoin the village of Punkaharju, and theKerimäki Churchin the neighboring village of Kerimäki, which is the largest wooden church in the world.
Savonlinna hosts the famous annualSavonlinna Opera Festival,which was held first time in 1912.[8]Theoperasare performed on a stage built inside the Olavinlinna castle. The city has also hosted theMobile Phone Throwing World Championshipssince 2000.
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Kerimäki Churchis the biggest wooden church in the world. -
Savonlinna Provincial Museum -
Lusto is a national forest museum is located inPunkaharju -
Punkaharju Ridgenature reserve
Climate
edit| Climate data for Savonlinna Punkaharju Laukansaari (1991–2020, extremes 1959–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 6.9 (44.4) |
8.7 (47.7) |
14.1 (57.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
28.9 (84.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
32.6 (90.7) |
32.3 (90.1) |
27.5 (81.5) |
18.3 (64.9) |
11.7 (53.1) |
8.9 (48.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −4.5 (23.9) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
0.9 (33.6) |
7.3 (45.1) |
14.6 (58.3) |
19.3 (66.7) |
22.0 (71.6) |
19.9 (67.8) |
14.1 (57.4) |
7.0 (44.6) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
8.0 (46.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −7.4 (18.7) |
−7.7 (18.1) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
2.6 (36.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
14.5 (58.1) |
17.3 (63.1) |
15.5 (59.9) |
10.5 (50.9) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
4.2 (39.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.6 (12.9) |
−11.3 (11.7) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
4.4 (39.9) |
10.0 (50.0) |
13.3 (55.9) |
12.0 (53.6) |
7.5 (45.5) |
2.3 (36.1) |
−2.5 (27.5) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
0.7 (33.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −40.2 (−40.4) |
−38.0 (−36.4) |
−33.2 (−27.8) |
−22.6 (−8.7) |
−10.2 (13.6) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
4.7 (40.5) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
−11.3 (11.7) |
−25.9 (−14.6) |
−36.0 (−32.8) |
−40.2 (−40.4) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 42 (1.7) |
34 (1.3) |
35 (1.4) |
29 (1.1) |
42 (1.7) |
62 (2.4) |
69 (2.7) |
78 (3.1) |
62 (2.4) |
62 (2.4) |
52 (2.0) |
52 (2.0) |
619 (24.4) |
| Average precipitation days | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 121 |
| Source 1: FMI normals 1991-2020[9] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Record highs and lows 1959- present[10] | |||||||||||||
Sports
editThe ice hockey team of Savonlinna,SaPKoor Savonlinnan Pallokerho, is playing in the second tierMestis.
The top-tiervolleyballteamSaimaa Volleyplays some of its home matches in Savonlinna. The football teamSavonlinnan Työväen Palloseura(STPS), is playing inKolmonen,the fourth tier.
Transport
edit
Savonlinna is located 104 kilometres (65 mi) east ofMikkeli,133 kilometres (83 mi) west ofJoensuuand 159 kilometres (99 mi) south ofKuopio.It is also 335 kilometres (208 mi) from the capital city ofHelsinkiby road, and some four hours away by train. Flights fromSavonlinna Airportto Helsinki take 40–60 minutes.
Education
editSouth-Eastern Finland University of Applied Scienceshas a campus in Savonlinna, teaching healthcare as well as process technologies. Research and development facilities include laboratories for wood processing and electronics.[11]University of Eastern Finlandhad a campus in Savonlinna, primarily for teacher education. The campus was shut down in 2018.[12]
There are two high schools in Savonlinna. One of these high schools is specialized in art subjects, which when it started its operation in 1967 was the first specialized high school inFinlandas well as in all of theNordic countries.[13]
International relations
editTwin towns — Sister cities
edit
Detmold,Germany
Kalmar,Sweden
Torzhok,Russia
Budavár (Budapest),Hungary
In addition, there is non-governmental cooperation with the following cities:[14]
Notable people
edit- Hannu Aravirta,former professional hockey forward, coach for the Finnish national men's team, SM-liiga and Elitserien
- Arto Heiskanen,professional hockey left winger
- Kari Hietalahti,actor
- Ere Kokkonen,film director and screenwriter
- Hanna Kosonen,politician and ski-orienteer
- Erik Laxmann,explorer and natural scientist
- Ville Leino,former professional hockey forward
- Petri Matikainen,ice hockey coach
- Jarmo Myllys,former professional hockey goaltender, member of the 1988, 1994 and 1998 Finnish Olympic ice hockey teams
- Pasha Pozdniakova,Finnish-RussianPlayboymodel and social media influencer[15][16]
- Joonas Rask,professional hockey forward for HIFK
- Tuukka Rask,former professional hockey goaltender, member of the 2014 Finnish Olympic ice hockey team
- Heikki Silvennoinen,actor and musician
- Pekka Tirkkonen,ice hockey coach
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abSeura: Saimaan pääkaupunki – ainutlaatuinen Savonlinna(in Finnish)
- ^"Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018"(PDF).National Land Survey of Finland.Retrieved30 January2018.
- ^"Finland's preliminary population figure was 5,635,560 at the end of October 2024".Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-11-19.ISSN1797-5395.Retrieved2024-11-22.
- ^"Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years".Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-04-26.ISSN1797-5395.Retrieved2024-04-29.
- ^"Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020".StatFin.Statistics Finland.Retrieved2 May2021.
- ^ab"Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023".Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022.Retrieved7 May2023.
- ^"Savonlinna".LexicoUK English Dictionary.Oxford University Press.Archived fromthe originalon 2020-03-22.
- ^Symington, Andy (1 April 2009).Lonely Planet Finland.Lonely Planet. p. 136.ISBN978-1-74104-771-4.Retrieved10 October2010.
- ^"FMI normals 1991-2020"(PDF).fmi.fi.Retrieved20 May2023.
- ^"FMI open data".FMI.Retrieved20 May2023.
- ^"Savonlinna Campus".Archived fromthe originalon 2021-04-11.Retrieved2019-06-01.
- ^"History".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-02-07.Retrieved2019-02-05.
- ^"Historian lehdiltä « Savonlinnan Taidelukio".www.taidelukio.fi.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-06-30.
- ^ab"Savonlinnan ystävyyskaupungit".savonlinna.fi.Retrieved26 April2014.
- ^"Pasha Pozdniakova palasi Savonlinnaan – loksautti leuat torilla".Stara(in Finnish). 24 May 2022.Retrieved9 October2022.
- ^Salminen, Veera (31 July 2022)."Savonlinnalainen malli Pasha Pozdniakova tienaa työllään kymppitonneja kuukaudessa ja haaveilee laulajan urasta –" Katsotaan, jos musta tulee toinen Beyoncé ", hän vitsailee".Itä-Savo(in Finnish).Retrieved9 October2022.
External links
edit
Media related toSavonlinnaat Wikimedia Commons
- Town of Savonlinna– Official site
- Visit Savonlinna official tourism site
Savonlinnatravel guide from Wikivoyage- World66– Open source travel guide
- Map of Savonlinna
