Savonlinna

Savonlinna (UK: /ˌsɑːvɒnˈlɪnə/,[6] Finnish: [ˈsɑʋonˌlinːɑ], lit. 'Castle of Savonia'; Swedish: Nyslott, lit. 'New Castle') is a town and a municipality of 32,002[3] inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region, which is why the city is also nicknamed the "Capital of Saimaa".[1] Together with Mikkeli, it is one of the largest towns in the South Savonia region and one of the concentrations in the region's hospital districts.[7] The town is internationally known for its medieval St. Olaf's Castle and the annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. It encircles the municipality of Enonkoski.

Savonlinna
Nyslott
Town
Savonlinnan kaupunki
Nyslotts stad
Coat of arms of Savonlinna
Coat of arms
Nickname: 
Capital of Saimaa[1]
Location of Savonlinna in Finland
Location of Savonlinna in Finland
Coordinates: 61°52′05″N 028°53′10″E
Country Finland
RegionSouthern Savonia
Sub-regionSavonlinna sub-region
Charter1639
Government
 • Town managerJanne Laine
Area
 (2018-01-01)[2]
 • Total3,597.70 km2 (1,389.08 sq mi)
 • Land1,210.51 km2 (467.38 sq mi)
 • Water762.62 km2 (294.45 sq mi)
 • Rank27th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-09-19)[3]
 • Total32,002
 • Rank36th largest in Finland
 • Density26.44/km2 (68.5/sq mi)
Population by native language
[4]
 • Finnish95.5% (official)
 • Swedish0.1%
 • Others4.4%
Population by age
[5]
 • 0 to 1411.6%
 • 15 to 6455.6%
 • 65 or older32.8%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.savonlinna.fi

History
Olavinlinna is a 15th-century three-tower castle.
Illustration in Finland framstäldt i teckningar edited by Zacharias Topelius and published 1845–1852.

The city was founded in 1639, based on Olavinlinna castle (St. Olaf's Castle). 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 "Old Finland".

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. In the beginning of the year 2013, the municipalities of Kerimäki and Punkaharju were consolidated with Savonlinna.

Attractions

The most notable attraction in Savonlinna is the Olavinlinna castle, a 15th-century castle built on an island. Near the castle is also the Savonlinna regional museum. Some other attractions include the forest museum Lusto in the village of Punkaharju, and the Kerimäki Church in the neighboring village of Kerimäki, which is the largest wooden church in the world.

Savonlinna hosts the famous annual Savonlinna Opera Festival, which was held first time in 1912.[8] The operas are performed on a stage built inside the Olavinlinna castle. The city has also hosted the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships since 2000.

Climate
Climate data for Savonlinna Punkaharju Laukansaari (1991–2020, extremes 1959–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 6.9
(44.4)		 8.7
(47.7)		 14.1
(57.4)		 22.5
(72.5)		 28.9
(84.0)		 32.8
(91.0)		 32.6
(90.7)		 32.3
(90.1)		 27.5
(81.5)		 18.3
(64.9)		 11.7
(53.1)		 8.9
(48.0)		 32.8
(91.0)
Average high °C (°F) −4.5
(23.9)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 0.9
(33.6)		 7.3
(45.1)		 14.6
(58.3)		 19.3
(66.7)		 22.0
(71.6)		 19.9
(67.8)		 14.1
(57.4)		 7.0
(44.6)		 1.4
(34.5)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 8.0
(46.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −7.4
(18.7)		 −7.7
(18.1)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 2.6
(36.7)		 9.4
(48.9)		 14.5
(58.1)		 17.3
(63.1)		 15.5
(59.9)		 10.5
(50.9)		 4.5
(40.1)		 −0.6
(30.9)		 −4.5
(23.9)		 4.2
(39.6)
Average low °C (°F) −10.6
(12.9)		 −11.3
(11.7)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 4.4
(39.9)		 10.0
(50.0)		 13.3
(55.9)		 12.0
(53.6)		 7.5
(45.5)		 2.3
(36.1)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 0.7
(33.3)
Record low °C (°F) −40.2
(−40.4)		 −38.0
(−36.4)		 −33.2
(−27.8)		 −22.6
(−8.7)		 −10.2
(13.6)		 −0.5
(31.1)		 4.7
(40.5)		 −0.3
(31.5)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 −11.3
(11.7)		 −25.9
(−14.6)		 −36.0
(−32.8)		 −40.2
(−40.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 42
(1.7)		 34
(1.3)		 35
(1.4)		 29
(1.1)		 42
(1.7)		 62
(2.4)		 69
(2.7)		 78
(3.1)		 62
(2.4)		 62
(2.4)		 52
(2.0)		 52
(2.0)		 619
(24.4)
Average precipitation days 11 10 9 7 8 10 10 10 10 12 12 12 121
Source 1: FMI normals 1991-2020[9]
Source 2: Record highs and lows 1959- present[10]

Sports

The ice hockey team of Savonlinna, SaPKo or Savonlinnan Pallokerho, is playing in the second tier Mestis.

The top-tier volleyball team Saimaa Volley plays some of its home matches in Savonlinna. The football team Savonlinnan Työväen Palloseura (STPS), is playing in Kolmonen, the fourth tier.

Transport
Savonlinna Airport

Savonlinna is located 104 kilometres (65 mi) east of Mikkeli, 133 kilometres (83 mi) west of Joensuu and 159 kilometres (99 mi) south of Kuopio. It is also 335 kilometres (208 mi) from the capital city of Helsinki by road, and some four hours away by train. Flights from Savonlinna Airport to Helsinki take 40–60 minutes.

Education

South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences has a campus in Savonlinna, teaching healthcare as well as process technologies. Research and development facilities include laboratories for wood processing and electronics.[11] University of Eastern Finland had a campus in Savonlinna, primarily for teacher education. The campus was shut down in 2018.[12]

There are two high schools in Savonlinna. One of these high schools is specialized in art subjects, which when it started its operation in 1967 was the first specialized high school in Finland as well as in all of the Nordic countries.[13]

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland

Twin towns — Sister cities

Savonlinna is twinned with:[14]

In addition, there is non-governmental cooperation with the following cities:[14]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Seura: Saimaan pääkaupunki – ainutlaatuinen Savonlinna (in Finnish)
  2. "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  3. "Finland's preliminary population figure was 5,587,841 at the end of August 2023". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  4. "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  5. "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  6. "Savonlinna". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
  7. Näkökulma: Keskustan 18 maakunnan unelma säröilee – Ministeritkin hääräävät savolaisten herruustaistelussa – Iltalehti (in Finnish)
  8. Symington, Andy (1 April 2009). Lonely Planet Finland. Lonely Planet. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-74104-771-4. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  9. "FMI normals 1991-2020" (PDF). fmi.fi. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  10. "FMI open data". FMI. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  11. "Savonlinna Campus".
  12. "History". Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  13. "Historian lehdiltä « Savonlinnan Taidelukio". www.taidelukio.fi. Archived from the original on 2013-06-30.
  14. "Savonlinnan ystävyyskaupungit". savonlinna.fi. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  15. "Pasha Pozdniakova palasi Savonlinnaan – loksautti leuat torilla". Stara (in Finnish). 24 May 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  16. Salminen, Veera (31 July 2022). "Savonlinnalainen malli Pasha Pozdniakova tienaa työllään kymppitonneja kuukaudessa ja haaveilee laulajan urasta – "Katsotaan, jos musta tulee toinen Beyoncé", hän vitsailee". Itä-Savo (in Finnish). Retrieved 9 October 2022.

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