Savukoski

Savukoski
Suovvaguoika (Northern Sami)
Suovâkuoškâ (Inari Sami)
Suõvvkuõškk (Skolt Sami)
Municipality
Savukosken kunta
Savukoski kommun
Centre of Savukoski.
Centre of Savukoski.
Coat of arms of Savukoski
Location of Savukoski in Finland
Location of Savukoski in Finland
Coordinates: 67°17.5′N 028°10′E / 67.2917°N 28.167°E / 67.2917; 28.167
Country Finland
RegionLapland
Sub-regionEastern Lapland
Charter1916
Government
 • Municipal managerMauri Aarrevaara
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total
6,495.95 km2 (2,508.10 sq mi)
 • Land6,440.08 km2 (2,486.53 sq mi)
 • Water57.93 km2 (22.37 sq mi)
 • Rank6th largest in Finland
Population
 (2024-10-31)[2]
 • Total
970
 • Rank295th largest in Finland
 • Density0.15/km2 (0.4/sq mi)
Population by native language
 • Finnish97% (official)
 • Swedish0.4%
 • Sami0.5%
 • Others2%
Population by age
 • 0 to 1410%
 • 15 to 6456.9%
 • 65 or older33.1%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.savukoski.fi

Savukoski (Northern Sami: Suovvaguoika; Inari Sami: Suovâkuoškâ; Skolt Sami: Suõvvkuõškk) is a municipality of Finland.

It is located in the province of Lapland, Finland. The municipality has a population of 970 (31 October 2024)[2] and covers an area of 6,495.95 square kilometres (2,508.10 sq mi) of which 57.93 km2 (22.37 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 0.15 inhabitants per square kilometre (0.39/sq mi), which is the lowest in relation to other Finnish municipalities. Neighbour municipalities are Pelkosenniemi, Salla and Sodankylä.

The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

According to Finnish folklore, the Korvatunturi Fell in Savukoski municipality is the location of Father Christmas's (Joulupukki) secret workshop, where toys, trinkets and gifts are made and eventually wrapped by gnomes.[6] The name Korvatunturi translates into English as "Ear Fell". Finnish children are told that from "Ear Fell" Father Christmas can hear what all the children are saying so he can find out if the children behave and obey their parents (and therefore may receive gifts next Christmas).

Savukoski is one of the largest municipalities in Finland, areawise, and the most sparsely settled. The river Kemijoki runs through it. Forestry and reindeer husbandry have traditionally been the main livelihood of the local population. There are ten times more reindeer than people in Savukoski[citation needed]. Nowadays tourism is also getting more important.

The Urho Kekkonen National Park is also located partly in Savukoski.

A bog region called Äteritsiputeritsipuolilautatsijänkä is in Savukoski. It has the longest place name in Finland.

  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 5,635,560 at the end of October 2024". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 19 November 2024. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 26 April 2024. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  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. ^ Robbins, Danny. "Meeting Father Christmas". Danny Robbins' Indie Travel Guide. BBC. Retrieved 23 June 2013.