Kainuu
Encyclopedia : K : KA : KAI : Kainuu
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 Map highlighting the location of the Region of Kainuu | ||||||||||||||||||
- Total (2002)
- Population density>Density
450,968
42.4/km²
Map highlighting the location of the Region of Finland Proper
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Kainuu (Swedish: Kajanaland) is a region (maakunta / landskap) of Finland. It is located in the Oulu province and it borders the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia, North Karelia and Northern Savonia. In the east it also borders Russia.
The administrative capital is Kajaani (locally, more like [kaijjaani]). In Kainuu there are 88 000 inhabitants and the population is in decline. The nature of Kainuu features forested hills, lakes and vast expanses of uninhabited woods at its most typical — 95% of the land area is forest. The climate is continental.
Original inhabitants of Kainuu were Sami hunter-fisherers. In the 1600's, the Governor General of Finland Per Brahe fostered the population growth of Kainuu by giving a ten year tax exemption to settlers. It was necessary to populate Kainuu with Finnish farmers because the area was threatened from the east by the Russians. The immigrants to Kainuu were mainly from Savo and because of that the Kainuu dialect is very close to the Savo dialect. Currently the population is in decline mainly because the traditional livelihood is agriculture which is not very profitable any more in that region. However, there is still some forest industry in Kainuu and the Kainuu Brigade is located near Kajaani.
Historical province
For History, Geography and Culture see: OstrobothniaMunicipalities
Main article: Municipalities of KainuuKainuu has 10 municipalities. A new, democratically elected organ, the regional council (maakuntavaltuusto), is being tested in Kainuu. The municipalities are independent, but this independence has been questioned as health care, among other responsibilities of the municipalities, is difficult to govern on such a small scale. The municipalities in Kainuu are testing a model, where health care and some other services are produced on the regional level.
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