Kuopio

Kuopio
City
Kuopion kaupunki
Kuopio stad
Kuopio viewed from Puijo Tower

Coat of arms
Coordinates: 62°53′33″N 027°40′42″E / 62.89250°N 27.67833°E / 62.89250; 27.67833Coordinates: 62°53′33″N 027°40′42″E / 62.89250°N 27.67833°E / 62.89250; 27.67833
Country  Finland
Region Northern Savonia
Sub-region Kuopio sub-region
Settled 1653
Charter 1775
Government
 • City manager Jarmo Pirhonen
Area (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total 4,326.35 km2 (1,670.41 sq mi)
 • Land 1,597.39 km2 (616.76 sq mi)
 • Water 719.85 km2 (277.94 sq mi)
Area rank 18th largest in Finland
Population (2017-08-31)[2]
 • Total 117,842
 • Rank 9th largest in Finland
 • Density 73.77/km2 (191.1/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 UTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code FI-70101
Municipal tax rate[5] 19.5%
Website kuopio.fi

Kuopio (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈkuo̯pio]) is a Finnish city and municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia (Pohjois-Savo). It has a population of 117,842,[2] which makes it the ninth-most populous city in Finland. Kuopio has a total area of 4,326.35 square kilometres (1,670.41 sq mi), of which 719.85 km2 (277.94 sq mi) is water[1] and half is forest. Though the city’s population is a spread-out 74/km2 (190/sq mi), the city's urban areas are populated comparably densely (urban area: 1,618 /km²),[6] making Kuopio Finland’s second-most densely populated city.

Since 1969 Kuopio has grown extensively through municipality mergers. Kuopio’s population surpassed 100,000 when the town of Nilsiä joined the city in the beginning of 2013.

Name

Several explanations are 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 explanation is that it came from a certain Karelian man's name Prokopij, from Ruokolahti in the Middle Ages.[7] This explanation is the most likely, and is supported by the Research Institute for the Languages of Finland.

History

In the 1550s, under the influence of Mikael Agricola, a church and a parish were founded in Kuopionniemi. Governor Peter Brahe founded the city of Kuopio in 1653, but the official date is recognized as November 17, 1775, when King Gustav III of Sweden ordered the formal establishment of the city.[8]

The period of Russian rule (1809–1917) brought notable transportation development within Eastern Finland. The Saimaa Canal (1856) opened up a summer route towards the Baltic Sea, and the Savo railroad (1889) improved transport in winter.[8]

The municipality of Maaninka joined the city of Kuopio in 2015, the town of Nilsiä in 2013, and Karttula[9] in 2011, as did Vehmersalmi in 2005, Riistavesi in 1973, and Kuopion maalaiskunta in 1969.[8]

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 used in the Saaristokaupunki (lit. Archipelago city) -project, the biggest residential area currently being built in Finland.[10] 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.[11]

Climate

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 Airport (1981-2010 normals, extremes 1959-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 5.0
(41)		 9.2
(48.6)		 13.3
(55.9)		 21.9
(71.4)		 28.6
(83.5)		 31.1
(88)		 33.8
(92.8)		 33.2
(91.8)		 24.8
(76.6)		 16.0
(60.8)		 11.1
(52)		 8.6
(47.5)		 33.8
(92.8)
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)		 7
(44.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −9.2
(15.4)		 −9.2
(15.4)		 −4.1
(24.6)		 2.0
(35.6)		 9.1
(48.4)		 14.5
(58.1)		 17.5
(63.5)		 15.0
(59)		 9.7
(49.5)		 4.1
(39.4)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 3.4
(38.1)
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)		 −0.1
(31.9)
Record low °C (°F) −39.3
(−38.7)		 −37.0
(−34.6)		 −33.0
(−27.4)		 −20.9
(−5.6)		 −8.2
(17.2)		 0.1
(32.2)		 4.7
(40.5)		 2.7
(36.9)		 −4.9
(23.2)		 −15.0
(5)		 −27.6
(−17.7)		 −33.2
(−27.8)		 −39.3
(−38.7)
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[12]
Kuopio
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
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

Transport

The city has a nationally unique feature in its street network, where every other street is reserved for pedestrian and cycle traffic,[13] so-called "rännikatu" (derived from the Swedish gränd, alley). These streets provide pedestrians a calm environment away from vehicular traffic.[14] This setup dates back to Kuopio’s first town plan by Pehr Kjellman in 1776. Originally, rännikadut were created as a fire barrier to prevent a possible fire escalating in a mainly wood-constructed city.[15]

The Blue Highway passes through Kuopio. It is an international tourist route from Mo i Rana, Norway to Pudozh, Russia via Sweden and Finland.

Long-distance transport connections from Kuopio include Pendolino and InterCity trains to several destinations around Finland, operated by VR, as well as multiple daily departures from Kuopio Airport on Finnair to Helsinki.

Education and business

Technology centre Technopolis Kuopio is situated in Kuopio Science Park.
Higher Education in Kuopio
University Students
University of Eastern Finland6 229[16]
Savonia University of Applied Sciences5 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

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. 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.

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

Kuopio Market Place with the Market Hall in foreground and the City Hall in the background

Religion

Kuopio Cathedral

The largest church denomination in 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 autonomous 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 also has an Islamic mosque.[23] Muslims from various parts of the world and certain Finnish Muslims live in Kuopio.

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

Rännikatu called Lapinlinnankatu. Rännikatus are narrow, usually pedestrian, streets in Kuopio city center.

Notable people

Sports in Kuopio

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.[25]

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kuopio is twinned with:

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Ennakkoväkiluku sukupuolen mukaan alueittain, elokuu 2017" (in Finnish). Statistics Finland. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  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. 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. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  5. ↑ "List of municipal and parish tax rates in 2011". Tax Administration of Finland. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Taajamissa asuu 84 prosenttia väestöstä" (in Finnish). Statistics Finland. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2009. Tiheimmin asuttu oli Helsingin keskustaajama, jossa oli 1 690 asukasta maaneliökilometrillä. Seuraavaksi tiheimmin asuttuja olivat Kuopion keskustaajama (1 618 as./maa-km2)
  7. ↑ Archived 26 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. 1 2 3 "History and basic data". Kuopio in Brief. City of Kuopio. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Karttula sulautuu Kuopioon" & "Karttula ja Kuopio yhteen". Myöhänen, Pentti & Manner, Matias & Hartikainen, Jarno; Savon Sanomat. 1 July 2008. pp. 1 and 3.
  10. ↑ "Kuopion korkein asuinkerrostalo nousi harjakorkeuteen". Suomen Kiinteistölehti. 16 October 2008. p. 14. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009.
  11. ↑ "Kallaveden syleilyssä". Saaristokaupunki. Kuopio. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2009.
  12. ↑ "Tilastoja Suomen ilmastosta 1981 - 2010". Finnish Meteorological Institute.
  13. ↑ WP2: Accessibility, Synthesis Report (PDF). Universell utforming. 26 March 2004. p. 14.
  14. ↑ Description of the Case Areas (PDF). VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. 2 May 2002. p. 8.
  15. ↑ "Napoleon ja Kuopio: Kuninkaiden Kuopio". Memory of Northern Savonia. Museums of Northern Savonia. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  16. ↑ "Key Data for 2007". University of Kuopio. 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  17. ↑ "In English". Savonia University of Applied Sciences. 2009. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  18. ↑ Emergency Services College
  19. ↑ Steps leading to the establishment of the UEF Archived 27 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ↑ Kuopion työpaikat ja elinkeinorakenne 1.1.2008 (PDF). Kuopion kaupungin yrityspalvelu. 2008. pp. 1–2.
  21. 1 2 "Elinkeinoelämä". City of Kuopio. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  22. ↑ Koskinen, Jerri (6 May 2012). "Jari Jolkkonen vihittiin Kuopion piispan virkaan". Savon Sanomat. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  23. ↑ "Kuopio Mosque".
  24. ↑ "Buddhist Channel | Buddhism News, Headlines | World | Burmese Buddhist monastery opens in Finland". Buddhistchannel.tv. 2009-01-05. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  25. ↑ Innsbruck and Kuopio Make Final Shortlist For 2012 Youth Olympic Winter Games Archived 8 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  26. ↑ "List of Twin Towns in the Ruhr District" (PDF). Twins2010.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  27. ↑ "Miasta Partnerskie Opola". Urzad Miasta Opola (in Polish). Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
  28. ↑ "Kuopio and Shanghai Pudong have signed a sister city agreement". City of Kuopio. 2012-07-20. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
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