Utsjoki

Utsjoki
Utsjoki (Finnish)
Ohcejohka (Northern Sami)
Uccjuuhâ (Inari Sami)
Uccjokk (Skolt Sami)
Municipality
Utsjoen kunta (Finnish)
Ohcejoga gielda (Northern Sami)
Utsjoki kommun (Swedish)
Utsjoki Church and a log cabin
Utsjoki Church and a log cabin
Coat of arms of Utsjoki
Location of Utsjoki in Finland
Location of Utsjoki in Finland
Coordinates: 69°54′N 027°01′E / 69.900°N 27.017°E / 69.900; 27.017
Country Finland
RegionLapland
Sub-regionNorthern Lapland
Charter1876
Government
 • Municipal managerVuokko Tieva-Niittyvuopio
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total
5,372.00 km2 (2,074.14 sq mi)
 • Land5,147.16 km2 (1,987.33 sq mi)
 • Water227.51 km2 (87.84 sq mi)
 • Rank10th largest in Finland
Population
 (2024-08-31)[2]
 • Total
1,136
 • Rank290th largest in Finland
 • Density0.22/km2 (0.6/sq mi)
Population by native language
 • Finnish53.9% (official)
 • Swedish0.2%
 • Sami41.5%
 • Others4.4%
Population by age
 • 0 to 1412.6%
 • 15 to 6456.4%
 • 65 or older30.9%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.utsjoki.fi

Utsjoki (Finnish: [ˈutsjoki]; Northern Sami: Ohcejohka [ˈoht͡seˌjohka]; Inari Sami: Uccjuuhâ; Skolt Sami: Uccjokk; Norwegian: Utsjok) is a municipality in Finland, the northernmost in the country. It is in Lapland and borders Norway as well as the municipality of Inari. The municipality was founded in 1876. It has a population of 1,136 (31 August 2024)[2] and covers an area of 5,372.00 square kilometres (2,074.14 sq mi) of which 227.51 km2 (87.84 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 0.22 inhabitants per square kilometre (0.57/sq mi).

Utsjoki has two official languages: Finnish and Northern Sami. It is the municipality in Finland with the largest portion of official Sami speakers; 41.5% of the population.[3]

The border with Norway follows the river Teno, which flows into the Arctic Sea. The northernmost village in Finland and in the European Union is Nuorgam, which is also the northernmost land border crossing in the world.[citation needed]

Utsjoki is at the northern end of highway 4, the longest highway in Finland. The European route E75 runs along the Sami Bridge and continues on to Norway.[citation needed]

The Kevo nature reserve is located within the municipality. It covers a territory of 712 km2 (275 sq mi) and there is a 63 km (39 mi) hiking trail. The trail partly follows the edge of the Kevo gorge.[citation needed]

"The name Utsjoki comes from Northern Sami Ohcejohka, but the origin of that name is unknown", according to website Fennica.pohjoiseen.fi.[6]

  1. ^ a b "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Finland's preliminary population figure was 5,625,011 at the end of August 2024". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-09-24. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  3. ^ a b "Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-04-26. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. ^ Utsjoki. Fennica.pohjoiseen.fi. Retrieved 2023-06-2023.