Kymenlaakso

Kymenlaakso (literally Kymi Valley) (Swedish: Kymmenedalen) is a region in Finland. It borders the regions of Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme, South Savo and South Karelia and Russia (Leningrad Oblast). Its name means literally The Valley of River Kymi. Kymijoki is one of the biggest rivers in Finland with a drainage basin with 11% of the area of Finland. The city of Kotka with 51,000 inhabitants is located at the delta of River Kymi and has the most important import harbour in Finland. Other cities are Kouvola further in the inland which has after a municipal merger 81,000 inhabitants and the old bastion town Hamina.

Kymenlaakso

Kymenlaakson maakunta
landskapet Kymmenedalen
Region
Coat of arms
Kymenlaakso on a map of Finland
CountryFinland
Historical provinceUusimaa, Karelia, Tavastia
Former provinces
CapitalKotka and Kouvola
Area
 • Total5,595.36 km2 (2,160.38 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total174,167
 • Density31/km2 (81/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 codeFI-09
NUTS186
Regional birdEurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Regional flowerYellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Websitewww.kymenlaakso.fi

Kymenlaakso was one of the first industrialized regions of Finland. It became the most important region for paper and pulp industry in Finland. Since the late 1900s many plants have closed, which has caused some deindustrialization, unemployment and population decline in Kymenlaakso, especially in those communes that were built around plants such as Myllykoski in Kouvola.

Seal of Kymi district, year 1642

Historical provinces

For history, geography and culture see: Uusimaa, Karelia and Tavastia

Municipalities
Main article: Municipalities of Kymenlaakso

The region of Kymenlaakso is made up of six municipalities, of which three have city status (marked in bold).

Politics

Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in Kymenlaakso:

  • A general view of Kotka town centre
  • Kymijoki River
  • Hamina Town Hall
  • Österviken Bay in the Gulf of Finland, Pyhtää
  • Inkeroinen church in Kouvola
  • Haukkavuori Tower, Kotka
  • Arboretum Mustila in Kouvola, the biggest and oldest one in Finland
  • Ships in Kotka harbour
  • A view from the round streets of Hamina
  • Anjala church, Kouvola
  • Sunila Factory; Kymenlaakso has a strong tradition of pulp mills
  • Anjala Manor, Kouvola
  • Architecture in Kotka
  • Bastions in Hamina
  • Kuusankoski church in Kouvola
  • Old harbour in Kotka with the Maritime Centre Vellamo during Meripäivät, an annual sea-related festival in Kotka
  • Kaunissaari, an island in Pyhtää
  • Repovesi National Park, Kouvola
  • Kymi church in Kotka
  • A view from Verla mill village in Kouvola
  • Kouvola Town Hall
  • The orthodox St. Peter-Paul Church in Hamina
  • Ahvenkoski Rapids in Kymijoki River, Pyhtää
  • A cannon from Salpa Line, Miehikkälä
  • The Rapakivi granite found especially in Virolahti was used in great measures to build the city of St Petersburg
  • Border crossing point between Finland and Russia in Vaalimaa (Virolahti).

References

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