Ruokolahti

Ruokolahti

Ruokolahti

Municipality in South Karelia, Finland

Ruokolahti (Finnish: [ˈruo̯koˌlɑhti]; Swedish: Ruokolax;[5] literally translated the "Reed Bay") is a municipality of Finland, situated in south-eastern Finland, in the region of South Karelia. Neighbouring municipalities are Imatra, Lappeenranta, Taipalsaari, Puumala, Sulkava, Punkaharju, Parikkala and Rautjärvi. Ruokolahti covers an area of 1,219.85 square kilometres (470.99 sq mi) of which 23% is water.[1]

Quick Facts Ruokolax, Country ...

The municipality has 4,760 inhabitants (31 December 2023),[2] but the population doubles in summer as holidaymakers occupy the 3,000 summer cottages in the region.[6]

Ruokolahti is known for its natural environment, for example Kummakivi is a balancing rock located at 61° 29' 36.4596" N, 28° 25' 45.5016" E in Ruokolahti[7] and is protected.[8] In the west there is the Lake Saimaa and in the east there are hundreds of smaller lakes. The Salpausselkä ridges run through the area.[6]

The famous sniper Simo Häyhä lived in Ruokolahti for 57 years after the 1939–40 Winter War.[9] He is buried there in the graveyard of Ruokolahti Church.

The municipal coat of arms of Ruokolahti is a canting arms that directly refers to the name of the municipality, including reeds appearing in it. Wave line is usually used to describe a local body of water. The coat of arms was designed by Gustaf von Numers and was confirmed for use on September 11, 1951.[10]

References

  1. [1]
    "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. [2]
    "Immigration record high in Finland in 2023". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  3. [3]
    "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. [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. [5]
    Namn på kommuner från finska till svenska; Kotimaisten kielten keskus
  6. [6]
    Hupponen, Paula (14 December 2003). "General Information". Discover Ruokolahti. Ruokolahti: Municipality of Ruokolahti. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2009. (Text from Discover Ruokolahti web site with a permission.)
  7. [7]
    "Karrta Paikka" (in Finnish). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  8. [8]
    Lehteinen, Markus. "Ruokolahden Kummakivi" (in Finnish). Retkipaikka. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  9. [9]
    "Tappouhkaukset ja pelko varjostivat sotalegenda Simo Häyhän elämää". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  10. [10]
    Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. ISBN 951-773-085-3.

Media related to Ruokolahti at Wikimedia Commons


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