POHJOIS-SUOMI - Geography and history
Pohjois-Suomi (Northern Finland) covers 133 579 km2 or 44% of Finland's total area. It comprises three regions: Lapi (Lapland), Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (North Ostrobothnia) and Keski-Pohjanmaa (Central Ostrobothnia). The major region has a common border with two other Finnish major regions: Länsi-Suomi and Itä-Suomi. It is also bounded by three other countries, Norway to the north, Sweden to the west and Russia to the east. It is the region with the lowest density of the country: 4.7 inhabitants per km2 against 17.1 at national level. The location of the region by the northernmost stretch of the Baltic Sea between the European Union and north-western Russia and co-operation both with the industrial centres of Europe and the economic districts of north-western Russia gives it a natural and crucial position as a gateway between West and East.
Northern Finland is characterised by vast, almost uninhabited tracts and by its scarce population concentrations, with the majority of its inhabitants living on the coast or along the rivers. To the north, the region becomes gradually more rugged and sparsely populated.
Rivers, mires and fells define the landscape of northern Finland. Over half of the eastern part of Pohjois-Pohjanmaa consists of mires, and the rest almost entirely of forests. Peatlands of equal extent are to be found in central Lappi. The second largest lake of Finland, lake Inari is in Lappi. Also worth mentioning are two large artificial lakes, Lokka and Porttipahta.
The Oulujoki, Tornionjoki and Kemijoki rivers constitute the largest watercourses in Pohjois-Suomi. In addition to rivers, the coastal landscape of Pohjois-Pohjanmaa is characterized by farming areas in the river valleys. The landscape of Lappi is more variable: it is indeed the only part of Finland to have notable highlands. The tree-covered hills known as vaaras and treeless fells rise either in groups or ranges or as single elevations. In the north-west, near the Norwegian border, stands the highest mountain in Finland: Halti, rising to 1 328 metres. The fell area of Saariselkä in northern Lapland is known for its vast tracts of bare-topped fells.
North of the Arctic Circle darkness turns into polar night in mid-winter. The succession of seasons is highlighted by the glowing autumn colours and the midnight sun at mid-summer. The Sami, the first people to inhabit Finland, also live in Lappi.
A region fast on the road to a modern society
Pohjois-Suomi has long suffered from its location on the periphery, but in fact the business and industrial structure has seen rapid modernisation in the last few decades.
There is only one city having more than 100 000 inhabitants in the region: Oulu, at the southwest of the region, had a population of 124 588 persons at first of January 2003. The Oulu subregion is an internationally recognised centre of technology and expertise where conscious efforts have been made to develop ideal conditions for new technology and practical cooperation between training, research and private enterprise. In addition to electrical and information technology the Oulu subregion is also well known for its medical technology and biotechnology.
The living conditions of Pohjois-Suomi are among the harshest in Europe. The long, dark, cold winter shortens the growing season, raises living expenses and demands exceptional hardiness of the people. At the same time its northern, and partly even Arctic, location provides Pohjois-Suomi with an incomparable competitive edge. The lure of Lappi and Kuusamo is embodied in the concept of 'the last wilderness of Western Europe'. The Sami culture further enhances the area's uniqueness.
The sparse population and long distances emphasize the importance of communications. The number of passengers going through the airport at Oulu in particular, but also at Rovaniemi and other airports, is steadily rising. The region has modern and efficient travel and telecommunication connections with all parts of the world.
Internal variations great
Variations in the size of municipalities and in population density are enormous in Pohjois-Suomi. The population density is highest on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Lappi has the most sparsely inhabited areas and also the most extensive municipalities in the area. The biggest of these, Inari, extends for over 15000 km2 and the second biggest, Sodankylä, for nearly 12 000 km2. Both Inari and Sodankylä are bigger than for example Luxemburg, but their population density is less than one person per km2.
The centres of affluence of Pohjois-Suomi are the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, where there is an industrial zone, and the holiday and tourist areas of Lappi. The wealth of Lappi depends largely on tourists, which are attracted by tourist resorts, nature reserves, fells and tracts of wilderness. On the other hand, even the prosperous areas of Pohjois-Suomi have suffered from unemployment, mainly of a seasonal variety.
Economic decline is a very real problem in areas where people live on primary production, and where there is no industry or substantial extra revenue from tourism. Such areas include rural Pohjois-Pohjanmaa, which is one of Finland's biggest livestock husbandry areas, and the agricultural centres of south-eastern and southern Lappi. These areas also record the worst unemployment figures in Finland. Unemployment is long-term and thus structural.
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