Kemijärvi
Town in Lapland, Finland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kemijärvi (Northern Sami: Giemajávri; Inari Sami: Kiemâjävri; Skolt Sami: Ǩeeʹmmjäuʹrr) is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the sub-region of Eastern Lapland.
Kemijärvi
Giemajávri Kiemâjävri Ǩeeʹmmjäuʹrr | |
---|---|
Town | |
Kemijärven kaupunki Kemijärvi stad | |
![]() Kemijärvi Church | |
![]() Location of Kemijärvi in Finland | |
Coordinates: 66°43′N 027°26′E | |
Country | Finland |
Region | Lapland |
Sub-region | Eastern Lapland |
Charter | 1957 |
City rights | 1973 |
Government | |
• Town manager | Pekka Iivari |
Area (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 3,930.91 km2 (1,517.73 sq mi) |
• Land | 3,504.39 km2 (1,353.05 sq mi) |
• Water | 425.84 km2 (164.42 sq mi) |
• Rank | 13th largest in Finland |
Population (2024-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 6,952 |
• Rank | 132nd largest in Finland |
• Density | 1.98/km2 (5.1/sq mi) |
Population by native language | |
• Finnish | 95.9% (official) |
• Swedish | 0.1% |
• Others | 4% |
Population by age | |
• 0 to 14 | 9.7% |
• 15 to 64 | 50.3% |
• 65 or older | 40% |
Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) |
Website | www |
History
Summarize
Perspective
The first permanent settler inhabitant of Kemijärvi was Paavali Ollinpoika Halonen, who moved from the region of Oulu, from Niskakylä, Utajärvi to Kemijärvi about 1580. His wife was Anna Laurintytär Halonen, and they had the children. Paavali's place of residence is known today as Halosenranta. Previously the area was inhabited exclusively by the Sami people.[citation needed]
The railway reached Kemijärvi in 1934. It was extended north to Salla and what is now Russia during World War II, though the line is currently moribund beyond Kemijärvi. Kemijärvi railway station has passenger train service to Rovaniemi, Oulu and Helsinki. The direct overnight train service between Kemijärvi and Helsinki was controversially withdrawn in September 2006, with VR (Finnish Railways) stating that its new sleeping car trains could not operate with the diesel locomotives needed for the (then) non-electrified railway north of Rovaniemi.[4]
A year later, the Ministry of Transport and Communications and VR reached an agreement concerning partial public funding of the service, which was restored in 2008 with a diesel generator car supplying head-end power to the passenger cars. The generator car disappeared from the train in March 2014 when the electrification extension from Rovaniemi to Kemijärvi was inaugurated, an event which also assured Kemijärvi a permanent place in the VR network.
On 9 May 1986, a BAE Hawk Mk 51 crashed in Kemijärvi while practising for a flight display due to loss of orientation.[5] The pilot, First Lieutenant M. Kähkönen, died upon impact.[citation needed]
Geography

Surrounding municipalities are Pelkosenniemi in the north, Salla in the east, Posio in the south and Rovaniemi in the west.
Population
The municipality has a population of 6,952 (31 December 2024)[2] and covers an area of 3,930.91 square kilometres (1,517.73 sq mi) of which 425.84 km2 (164.42 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 1.98 inhabitants per square kilometre (5.1/sq mi).
Notable people
- Pentti Kouri, investor and economist
- Matti Lahtela, Member of Parliament, municipal and provincial politician
- Olavi Lahtela, Member of Parliament and Minister
- Markus Mustajärvi, Member of Parliament
- Kari Väänänen, actor, screenwriter and director
Twin towns - sister cities
Kemijärvi is twinned with:[6]
Kandalaksha, Russia, since 1988
Sōbetsu, Japan, since 1993
Vadsø, Norway, since 1961
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
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