Ilomantsi
Encyclopedia
Ilomantsi is municipality and a village of Finland
.
It is located in the province
of Eastern Finland
and is part of the North Karelia
region
. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of km2 of which km2 is water. The population density
is PD/km2. The most eastern point of Finland and of the continental part of the European Union
is located in Ilomantsi near the village of Hattuvaara
. (In the EU, only Cyprus
is located further to the east.)
The nearest town is Joensuu
, 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) away; the distance to Helsinki
is 511 km (317.5 mi). Neighbouring municipalities are Lieksa
and Joensuu
. In the east, Ilomantsi shares 100 kilometre long border with the Russia
n Republic of Karelia
. The municipality is sparsely populated and is mostly characterized by with forests and boglands. About 250 km² (96.5 sq mi) of the area is designated as natural reserves, among them the national parks Petkeljärvi and Patvinsuo. The most important bodies of water in Ilomantsi are the lakes Koitere
and Nuorajärvi
and the river Koitajoki
.
The municipality is unilingually Finnish
. Local words of Karelian or Russian extraction might be used in Ilomantsi. For example the central village of the municipality is not called kirkonkylä as is usual in Finland, but pogosta (a Russian loan-word, originally pogost
). Even the local newspaper is called Pogostan Sanomat, i.e. "The Pogosta News".
Ilomantsi has 17.4% Orthodox minority
, which is the largest percentage among Finnish municipalities. The wooden Orthodox church of Ilomantsi is the largest in Finland and is dedicated to the prophet Elijah. There are also five Orthodox chapels (tsasouna) in the municipality. The Orthodox community of Ilomantsi is more than 500 years old and counts 1,100 members.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
It is located in the province
Provinces of Finland
The state of Finland consisted of six provinces between the years 1997 and 2009. The provincial authority was part of the central government's executive branch, not directly elected. The system was created in 1634, and its makeup was changed drastically in 1997, when the number of the provinces...
of Eastern Finland
Eastern Finland
Eastern Finland was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2010. It bordered the provinces of Oulu, Western Finland and Southern Finland. It also bordered Russia.- History :...
and is part of the North Karelia
North Karelia
North Karelia is a region in eastern Finland. It borders to the regions of Kainuu, Northern Savonia, Southern Savonia, South Karelia and to Russia.The city of Joensuu is the centre of the North Karelia region.- Municipalities :...
region
Regions of Finland
Finland consists of 19 regions called in Finnish and in Swedish. The regions are governed by regional councils, which serve as forums of cooperation for the municipalities of a region. The main tasks of the regions are regional planning and development of enterprise and education. In addition,...
. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of km2 of which km2 is water. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
is PD/km2. The most eastern point of Finland and of the continental part of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
is located in Ilomantsi near the village of Hattuvaara
Hattuvaara
Hattuvaara is a village in Ilomantsi municipality in the province of Eastern Finland, about 40 km north-east from the municipality centre and near the border with Russia....
. (In the EU, only Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
is located further to the east.)
The nearest town is Joensuu
Joensuu
Joensuu is a city and municipality in North Karelia in eastern Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of North Karelia region. It was founded in 1848...
, 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) away; the distance to Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
is 511 km (317.5 mi). Neighbouring municipalities are Lieksa
Lieksa
Lieksa is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
and Joensuu
Joensuu
Joensuu is a city and municipality in North Karelia in eastern Finland. It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of North Karelia region. It was founded in 1848...
. In the east, Ilomantsi shares 100 kilometre long border with the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Republic of Karelia
Republic of Karelia
The Republic of Karelia is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is located in the northwestern part of Russia, taking intervening position between the basins of White and Baltic seas...
. The municipality is sparsely populated and is mostly characterized by with forests and boglands. About 250 km² (96.5 sq mi) of the area is designated as natural reserves, among them the national parks Petkeljärvi and Patvinsuo. The most important bodies of water in Ilomantsi are the lakes Koitere
Koitere
is a lake in Ilomantsi, North Karelia, Finland. The lake, which sports numerous islands and beaches, is located in the middle of wilderness. The river Koitajoki, which is a tributary of the river Pielisjoki in North Karelia, flows from the lake....
and Nuorajärvi
Nuorajärvi
-References:* *...
and the river Koitajoki
Koitajoki
The Koita River is a river in Eastern Finland and partly in Russia in Northern Europe. Having its origin just by the international boundary in Ilomantsi of Northern Karelia in Finland, the Koita River enters the territory of the Republic of Karelia in Russia, to return in Finland some 30...
.
The municipality is unilingually Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
. Local words of Karelian or Russian extraction might be used in Ilomantsi. For example the central village of the municipality is not called kirkonkylä as is usual in Finland, but pogosta (a Russian loan-word, originally pogost
Pogost
Pogost is a historical term with several meanings in the Russian language. It has also been borrowed into Latvian and Finnish , with specific meanings....
). Even the local newspaper is called Pogostan Sanomat, i.e. "The Pogosta News".
Ilomantsi has 17.4% Orthodox minority
Finnish Orthodox Church
The Finnish Orthodox Church is an autonomous Orthodox archdiocese of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Church has a legal position as a national church in the country, along with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland....
, which is the largest percentage among Finnish municipalities. The wooden Orthodox church of Ilomantsi is the largest in Finland and is dedicated to the prophet Elijah. There are also five Orthodox chapels (tsasouna) in the municipality. The Orthodox community of Ilomantsi is more than 500 years old and counts 1,100 members.
External links
- Ilomantsi in English
- Municipality of Ilomantsi – Official website