Suomussalmi

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Suomussalmi
—  Municipality  —
Suomussalmen kunta

Coat of arms
Location of Suomussalmi in Finland
Coordinates: 64°53′N 028°55′E / 64.883°N 28.917°E / 64.883; 28.917Coordinates: 64°53′N 028°55′E / 64.883°N 28.917°E / 64.883; 28.917
Country Finland
Region Kainuu
Sub-region Kehys-Kainuu sub-region
Charter 1867
Government
 - Municipal manager Timo A. Säkkinen
Area (2009-01-01)[1]
 - Total 5,857.95 km2 (2,261.8 sq mi)
 - Land 5,270.77 km2 (2,035.1 sq mi)
 - Water 587.18 km2 (226.7 sq mi)
Area rank 9th largest in Finland
Population (2009-06-30)[2]
 - Total 9,402
 - Density 1.78/km2 (4.6/sq mi)
Population rank 112th largest in Finland
Population by native language [3]
 - Finnish 98.7% (official)
 - Others 1.3%
Population by age [4]
 - 0 to 14 12.7%
 - 15 to 64 63%
 - 65 or older 24.3%
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Municipal tax rate[5] 19%
Website www.suomussalmi.fi

Suomussalmi is a municipality in Finland and is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of 9,402 (30 June 2009)[2] and covers an area of 5,857.95 square kilometres (2,261.77 sq mi) of which 587.18 km2 (226.71 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 1.78 inhabitants per square kilometre (4.6 /sq mi). The municipality is unilingually Finnish. Ämmänsaari is the biggest built-up area in the municipality.

Suomussalmi is the second southernmost part of the reindeer-herding area in Finland.

During the Winter War of 1939–40, several battles were fought in the area around Suomussalmi, the most important ones being the Battle of Suomussalmi and the Battle of Raate. In these battles small Finnish forces defeated numerically superior Soviet forces.

Formula One racing driver Heikki Kovalainen is from Suomussalmi, as well as the author Ilmari Kianto and the composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä, in addition to the NHL player, Janne Pesonen. [6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Area by municipality as of 1 January 2009" (in Finnish and Swedish) (PDF). Land Survey of Finland. http://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/Pintaalat_kunnittain_1.1.2009.pdf. Retrieved 20 February 2009. 
  2. ^ a b "Population by municipality as of 30 June 2009" (in Finnish and Swedish). Population Information System. Population Register Center of Finland. http://www.vrk.fi/vrk/files.nsf/files/AE1290D892E86719C22575EB002B065C/$file/090630.html. Retrieved 26 July 2009. 
  3. ^ "Population according to language and the number of foreigners and land area km2 by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. http://pxweb2.stat.fi/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=060_vaerak_tau_107_fi&ti=V%E4est%F6+kielen+mukaan+sek%E4+ulkomaan+kansalaisten+m%E4%E4r%E4+ja+maa%2Dpinta%2Dala+alueittain++1980+%2D+2008&path=../Database/StatFin/vrm/vaerak/&lang=3&multilang=fi. Retrieved 29 March 2009. 
  4. ^ "Population according to age and gender by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. http://pxweb2.stat.fi/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=050_vaerak_tau_104_fi&ti=V%E4est%F6+i%E4n+%281%2Dv%2E%29+ja+sukupuolen+mukaan+alueittain+1980+%2D+2008&path=../Database/StatFin/vrm/vaerak/&lang=3&multilang=fi. Retrieved 28 April 2009. 
  5. ^ "List of municipal and parish tax rates in 2009". Tax Administration of Finland. 1 December 2008. http://www.vero.fi/nc/doc/download.asp?id=6425;167571. Retrieved 8 March 2009. 
  6. ^ Ask the expert - Heikki Kovalainen Formula1.com

[edit] External links