Savonlinna
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| Savonlinna | |||
| — Town — | |||
| Savonlinnan kaupunki | |||
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| Coordinates: 61°52′05″N 028°53′10″E / 61.86806°N 28.88611°ECoordinates: 61°52′05″N 028°53′10″E / 61.86806°N 28.88611°E | |||
| Country |  Finland |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Province | Eastern Finland | ||
| Region | Southern Savonia | ||
| Sub-region | Savonlinna sub-region | ||
| Charter | 1639 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Town manager | Janne Laine | ||
| Area (2009-01-01)[1] | |||
| - Total | 1,973.34 km2 (761.9 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 1,210.86 km2 (467.5 sq mi) | ||
| - Water | 762.48 km2 (294.4 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2009-03-31)[2] | |||
| - Total | 27,784 | ||
| - Density | 22.95/km2 (59.4/sq mi) | ||
| Population by native language [3] | |||
| - Finnish | 97.7% (official) | ||
| - Swedish | 0.1% | ||
| - Others | 2.2% | ||
| Population by age [4] | |||
| - 0 to 14 | 13.7% | ||
| - 15 to 64 | 64.5% | ||
| - 65 or older | 21.8% | ||
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | ||
| Municipal tax rate[5] | 20.25% | ||
| Website | www.savonlinna.fi | ||
Savonlinna (Swedish: Nyslott, literally Newcastle, Russian: Нейшлот, Neishlott during 18th and 19th centuries. The Finnish name means Castle of Savonia.) is a town and a municipality of 27,784 (31 March 2009)[2] inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region.
The city was founded in 1639, based around Olavinlinna. The castle was founded by Erik Axelsson Tott in 1475 in an effort to protect Savonia and to control the unstable border between the Kingdom of Sweden and its Russian adversary. During the Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743), the castle was captured by Field-Marshal Peter Lacy. It was held by Russia between 1743 and 1812, when it was granted back to Finland as a part of the "Old Finland".
This town is 335 kilometres (208 mi) away from the capital of Helsinki by road, some four hours away by train. There is an airport in the town, and the journey to Helsinki takes 40–60 minutes by plane. It is built on a chain of islands located throughout a number of large lakes.
In 1973 the municipality of Sääminki was consolidated with Savonlinna. In the beginning of year 2009 the municipality of Savonranta and a 31.24 km2 (12.06 sq mi) land strip from Enonkoski between Savonlinna and Savonranta were consolidated with Savonlinna.
University of Joensuu has a campus in Savonlinna, primarily for teacher education.
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[edit] Attractions
The city hosts the famous annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. The operas are performed on a stage built inside the castle. It also has hosted the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships annually since 2000.
[edit] Sports
The ice hockey team of Savonlinna, SaPKo or Savonlinnan Pallokerho, is playing in the second tier Mestis. The volleyball team East Volley is playing in the second tier I-sarja. The football team Savonlinnan Työväen Palloseura (STPS), is playing in Kolmonen, the fourth tier.
Ville Leino, a professional ice hockey forward for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League was born in Savonlinna.
[edit] References
- ^ "Area by municipality as of 1 January 2009" (in Finnish and Swedish) (PDF). Land Survey of Finland. http://www.maanmittauslaitos.fi/Pintaalat_kunnittain_1.1.2009.pdf. Retrieved on 20 February 2009.
- ^ a b "Population by municipality as of 31 March 2009" (in Finnish and Swedish). Population Information System. Population Register Center of Finland. http://www.vrk.fi/vrk/files.nsf/files/5D795199C7CAC193C22575A000324AE2/$file/20090331.htm. Retrieved on 28 April 2009.
- ^ "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. http://pxweb2.stat.fi/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=060_vaerak_tau_107_fi&ti=V%E4est%F6+kielen+mukaan+sek%E4+ulkomaan+kansalaisten+m%E4%E4r%E4+ja+maa%2Dpinta%2Dala+alueittain++1980+%2D+2008&path=../Database/StatFin/vrm/vaerak/&lang=3&multilang=fi. Retrieved on 29 March 2009.
- ^ "Population according to age and gender by area as of 31 December 2008". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. http://pxweb2.stat.fi/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=050_vaerak_tau_104_fi&ti=V%E4est%F6+i%E4n+%281%2Dv%2E%29+ja+sukupuolen+mukaan+alueittain+1980+%2D+2008&path=../Database/StatFin/vrm/vaerak/&lang=3&multilang=fi. Retrieved on 28 April 2009.
- ^ "List of municipal and parish tax rates in 2009". Tax Administration of Finland. 1 December 2008. http://www.vero.fi/nc/doc/download.asp?id=6425;167571. Retrieved on 8 March 2009.
[edit] External links
Media related to Savonlinna at Wikimedia Commons- Town of Savonlinna – Official site
- savonlinna.travel
- Savonlinna travel guide from Wikitravel
- World66 – Open source travel guide
- Map of Savonlinna
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