Loppi

Loppi (Finnish: [ˈlo̞pːi]; Swedish: Loppi, also Loppis) is a municipality in Finland. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Tavastia Proper region. Loppi was founded in 1632. The municipality has a population of 7,861 (31 July 2020)[6] and covers an area of 655.97 square kilometres (253.27 sq mi) of which 58.36 km2 (22.53 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 13.15 inhabitants per square kilometre (34.1/sq mi). The municipality is unilingually Finnish. Neighbour municipalities are Hyvinkää, Hämeenlinna, Janakkala, Karkkila, Riihimäki, Tammela and Vihti. The most significant main road connection to get from Loppi to Riihimäki is the national road 54, which runs between Tammela and Hollola.

Loppi
Municipality
Lopen kunta
Loppi kommun
Saint Bridget Church
Coat of arms
Location of Loppi in Finland
Coordinates: 60°43′N 024°26.5′E
Country Finland
RegionTavastia Proper
Sub-regionRiihimäki sub-region
Founded1632
Government
  Municipal managerMikko Salmela
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
  Total655.97 km2 (253.27 sq mi)
  Land597.62 km2 (230.74 sq mi)
  Water58.36 km2 (22.53 sq mi)
Area rank140th largest in Finland
Population
 (2020-07-31)[2]
  Total7,861
  Rank126th largest in Finland
  Density13.15/km2 (34.1/sq mi)
Population by native language
  Finnish98.3% (official)
  Swedish0.4%
  Others1.2%
Population by age
  0 to 1419.8%
  15 to 6462.4%
  65 or older17.7%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Municipal tax rate[5]20%
Websitewww.loppi.fi

The subject of the municipal coat of arms, where the iron symbol has sunk into a wave-cut plate, refers to the lifting of limonite from the lake in the early period.

According to local folklore, Kaakkomäki of Loppi was inhabited by a giant devil in ancient times. When Loppi’s old church, Saint Bridget Church, was built in the 17th century, the devil tried to disrupt the construction and became enraged when the church bells rang. The devil tried to destroy the church bell tower and threw it with a large rock. However, the rock flew over the church to Tiirinkallio on the shore of Lake Loppijärvi, from where the rock was combed into the lake. The stone in the lake brought a disaster: cattle fell ill and animals died. So the villagers crammed the rock up the cliff and the luck of the cattle was restored.[7]

Loppi is especially known for its potato cultivation,[8] and the potato is classified as the municipality's title plant.[9]

Villages

There are three big villages in the municipality: Loppi (Kirkonkylä), Launonen and Läyliäinen. Most of the inhabitants of the municipality live in these villages, as they are located along the significant main road connections of the municipality.

Other (smaller) villages are Hevosoja, Hirvijärvi, Hunsala, Joentaka, Kormu, Metsäkylä, Ourajoki, Pilpala, Räyskälä, Sajaniemi, Salo, Teväntö, Topeno and Vojakkala.

Attractions

Marshal Mannerheim's hunting lodge called the "Marshal's Cabin" (Marskin Maja in Finnish) was moved from Karelia to Loppi in 1942 during the Continuation War. It is located on the side of lake Punelia and nowadays functions as a restaurant and museum.

The Räyskälä Airfield is located in Loppi. It is home to the Finnish Sports Aviation Academy and one of the busiest general aviation airfields in Finland.

The church of Saint Birgitta is situated in Loppi. It is commonly called the Santa Pirjo, Pirjo being the Finnish version of the name Birgitta. The church is one of the oldest wooden churches in Finland, being about 300 years old.

Notable people

References

  1. "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. "Suomen virallinen tilasto (SVT): Väestön ennakkotilasto [verkkojulkaisu]. Heinäkuu 2020" (in Finnish). Statistics Finland. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  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. "Population by municipality as of 31 December 2008". Population Information System (in Finnish and Swedish). Population Register Center of Finland. Archived from the original on 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  7. Loppilainen taru (in Finnish)
  8. Loppi tunnetaan perunasta - tulevaisuudessa mahdollisesti myös harvinaisesta perhoslajista? (in Finnish)
  9. Lopen nimikkolajit (in Finnish)

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