Suomussalmi
Suomussalmi (Finnish: [ˈsuo̯muˌsːɑlmi]) is a municipality in Finland and is located in the Kainuu region about 90 kilometres (56 mi) northeast of Kajaani, the capital of Kainuu and 120 kilometres (75 mi) south of Kuusamo. The municipality has a population of 7,171 (31 December 2023) and covers an area of 5,857.60 square kilometres (2,261.63 sq mi) of which 587.03 km2 (226.65 sq mi) is water. The population density is 1.36 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.5/sq mi). The municipality is unilingually Finnish. Ämmänsaari is the biggest built-up area in the municipality.
Suomussalmi | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
| Suomussalmen kunta Suomussalmi kommun | |
An aerial view of Ämmänsaari, an administrative center of Suomussalmi | |
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Coat of arms | |
Location of Suomussalmi in Finland | |
| Coordinates: 64°53′N 028°55′E | |
| Country | Finland |
| Region | Kainuu |
| Sub-region | Kehys-Kainuu |
| Charter | 1867 |
| Seat | Ämmänsaari |
| Government | |
| • Municipal manager | Erno Heikkinen |
| Area (2018-01-01) | |
| • Total | 5,857.60 km2 (2,261.63 sq mi) |
| • Land | 5,270.33 km2 (2,034.89 sq mi) |
| • Water | 587.03 km2 (226.65 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 9th largest in Finland |
| Population (2023-12-31) | |
| • Total | 7,171 |
| • Rank | 130th largest in Finland |
| • Density | 1.36/km2 (3.5/sq mi) |
| Population by native language | |
| • Finnish | 96.6% (official) |
| • Swedish | 0.1% |
| • Others | 3.3% |
| Population by age | |
| • 0 to 14 | 10.1% |
| • 15 to 64 | 52% |
| • 65 or older | 37.9% |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) |
| Website | www |
Suomussalmi is the second southernmost part of the reindeer-herding area in Finland.
During the Winter War of 1939–40, several battles were fought in the area around Suomussalmi, the most important ones being the Battle of Suomussalmi and the Battle of Raate. In these battles Finnish forces defeated numerically superior Soviet forces.
Formula One racing driver Heikki Kovalainen is from Suomussalmi, as well as the author Ilmari Kianto and the composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä, in addition to the ice hockey player, Janne Pesonen. Also, the first President of the Republic of Finland, K. J. Ståhlberg, was born in the Karhula rectory (Karhulan pappila) in Suomussalmi.
Suomussalmi hosted the 2016 World Berry Picking Championship.