Joensuu
Jovensuu (Karelian)
City
Joensuun kaupunki
Joensuu stad
City of Joensuu
Clockwise from top-left: the Joensuu Arena, the North Karelia Central Hospital, the Joensuu Airport, the Joensuu Railway Station, and the fountain in the park; in the middle from top to bottom: the Joensuu City Hall, The Gate of Joensuu (Joensuun portti) near the market square, and the Statue of Liberty in the Park of Liberty
Clockwise from top-left: the Joensuu Arena, the North Karelia Central Hospital, the Joensuu Airport, the Joensuu Railway Station, and the fountain in the park; in the middle from top to bottom: the Joensuu City Hall, The Gate of Joensuu (Joensuun portti) near the market square, and the Statue of Liberty in the Park of Liberty
Flag of Joensuu
Flag
Coat of arms of Joensuu
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
Jönssi,[1] Jenssi[2]
Location of Joensuu in Finland
Location of Joensuu in Finland
Coordinates: 62°36′N 029°45′E / 62.600°N 29.750°E / 62.600; 29.750
Country Finland
Region North Karelia
Sub-regionJoensuu
Charter1848
Government
 • City managerKari Karjalainen
Area
 (2018-01-01)[3]
 • Total2,751.07 km2 (1,062.19 sq mi)
 • Land2,381.79 km2 (919.61 sq mi)
 • Water369.31 km2 (142.59 sq mi)
 • Rank26th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-09-30)[4]
 • Total77,958
 • Rank12th largest in Finland
 • Density32.73/km2 (84.8/sq mi)
Population by native language
[5]
 • Finnish93.6% (official)
 • Swedish0.1%
 • Others6.2%
Population by age
[6]
 • 0 to 1413.5%
 • 15 to 6464.1%
 • 65 or older22.5%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Unemployment rate14.5%
Websitewww.jns.fi

Joensuu (Finnish: [ˈjoensuː] ⓘ; Karelian: Jovensuu; lit. 'river's mouth') is a city and municipality in North Karelia, Finland, located on the northern shore of Lake Pyhäselkä (northern part of Lake Saimaa) at the mouth of the Pielinen River (Pielisjoki). It was founded in 1848 by Russian Emperor Nicholas I. The population of Joensuu is 77,958 (September 30, 2023),[3] and the economic region of Joensuu has a population of 115,000.[7] It is the 12th largest city in Finland. The nearest major city, Kuopio in North Savonia, is located 136 kilometres (85 mi) to the west. From Joensuu, the distance to Lappeenranta, the capital of South Karelia, is 233 kilometres (145 mi) along Highway 6.

As is typical of cities in Eastern Finland, Joensuu is monolingually Finnish. Along with Kuopio, Joensuu is one of major urban, economic, and cultural hubs of Eastern Finland. Joensuu is a student city with a subsidiary of the University of Eastern Finland, which has over 20,000 enrolled students,[8] and a further 4,000 students at the Karelia University of Applied Sciences.[9]

Heraldry

The explanation of the coat of arms of Joensuu reads: "shield twice blocked with upper moat and lower corrugated; fields in red, silver and black." The wave bar of the subject refers to the location of the city along the Pielinen River and the position of the moat near the eastern border of Finland, while its colors black and red are considered typical colors of Karelia. The coat of arms was designed by Toivo Vuorela, and it was approved by the Joensuu City Council at its meeting on May 10, 1957. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed the use of the coat of arms on November 19 of the same year. In addition to the coat of arms, the city of Joensuu also uses a flag based on it, in which the silver of the coat of arms has been replaced by white.[10][11][12]

History

The city of Joensuu, founded by the Czar Nicholas I of Russia in 1848, is the regional centre and the capital of North Karelia. During the 19th century Joensuu was a city of manufacture and commerce. When in 1860 the city received dispensation rights to initiate commerce, former restrictions against industry were removed and the local sawmills began to prosper and expand. Water traffic was improved by the building and opening of the Saimaa Canal in 1856. Consequently, a lively commerce between the regions of North Karelia, St. Petersburg and Central Europe was enabled. At the end of the 19th century Joensuu was one of the largest harbour cities in Finland.

Throughout the centuries Karelian traders have plied the Pielisjoki River. The river has always been the lively heart of the city. Canals – completed by 1870 – increased the river traffic. Thousands of steamboats, barges and logging boats sailed along the river during the golden age of river traffic. The Pielisjoki River has also been an important log raft route, providing wood for the sawmills and for the entire lumber industry.

During the last few decades, the formerly modest agrarian town has developed into a vital centre of the province. Success in regional annexations, the establishment of the region of North Karelia, and investments in education have been the most decisive actions in this development.

The municipality of Pielisensuu was consolidated with Joensuu in 1954. At the beginning of 2005, the municipalities of Kiihtelysvaara and Tuupovaara were consolidated with Joensuu. At the beginning of 2009 the municipalities of Eno and Pyhäselkä were consolidated with Joensuu. After the most recent consolidations, there are approximately 73,000 inhabitants in the Joensuu municipal area.

The University of Joensuu (now part of the University of Eastern Finland since January 2010.[13]) has, in twenty-five years, expanded to eight faculties. The university is one of the mainstays for the vitality of the city and so for all North Karelia. Diversified international cooperation in science, industry and commerce benefits the whole region.

The proximity of the eastern border has been an important factor in the history of the city. The Republic of Karelia is once again a significant area for cooperation with nearby regions in Russia. Export companies in Joensuu continue the pre-revolutionary traditions in foreign trade.

Joensuu offers varied cultural activities. A series of events – Ilosaarirock festival, Joensuu Music Winter, Festival of Visual Culture Viscult, Gospel festivals – and the unspoilt environment increase the attractiveness of the city.

Joensuu is sometimes referred to as the Forest Capital of Europe, mainly because the European Forest Institute is based there. Other forestry research and educational facilities are also based in Joensuu.

Geography

The neighboring municipalities of Joensuu are Liperi, Kontiolahti, Lieksa, Ilomantsi, Tohmajärvi and Rääkkylä. In addition, the city is part of the Joensuu sub-region, which currently also includes the municipalities of Heinävesi, Ilomantsi, Juuka, Kontiolahti, Liperi and Polvijärvi, as well as the town of Outokumpu.

Climate

Joensuu has a subarctic climate (Köppen: Dfc) closely bordering on the continental climate zone (Köppen climate classification Dfb) due to its high latitude and inland position. Being quite far inland, Joensuu has a more continental climate than most of Finland. As a result, Joensuu can be prone to temperature extremes both in winter and summer. For example, Joensuu is on average warmer than Dublin or Manchester in July, and colder than Moscow in January. Winters are long, cold and snowy. Summers however, bring frequent temperatures above 20.0 °C (68.0 °F) and thunderstorms occur typically on 10–15 days per year.[14] The highest temperature ever recorded 37.2 °C (99.0 °F) on July 29, 2010, is the highest recorded temperature in Finland and the second highest ever recorded temperature in the Nordic countries, only behind Sweden's all time record at 38.0 °C (100.4 °F). The lowest temperature ever recorded in Joensuu was −40.0 °C (−40.0 °F) on December 10, 1955. In winter, the snowcover is reliable and on average 50–70 cm deep. Annually, Joensuu experiences on average 24 days with temperatures −20 °C (−4 °F) or colder while temperature below −30 °C (−22 °F) is observed about once per year. Annual total precipitation averages at 589 mm, with about 225 mm of it falling in the form of snow.[15][16]

Climate data for Joensuu (1991–2020, extremes 1955–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 6.7
(44.1)		 7.8
(46.0)		 12.8
(55.0)		 23.5
(74.3)		 29.2
(84.6)		 32.0
(89.6)		 37.2
(99.0)		 31.4
(88.5)		 25.8
(78.4)		 18.7
(65.7)		 10.5
(50.9)		 8.3
(46.9)		 37.2
(99.0)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 2.8
(37.0)		 2.4
(36.3)		 6.6
(43.9)		 15.0
(59.0)		 23.6
(74.5)		 26.7
(80.1)		 28.1
(82.6)		 25.8
(78.4)		 20.1
(68.2)		 12.5
(54.5)		 7.1
(44.8)		 3.3
(37.9)		 29.2
(84.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −5.6
(21.9)		 −5.4
(22.3)		 −0.1
(31.8)		 6.3
(43.3)		 13.9
(57.0)		 19.0
(66.2)		 21.9
(71.4)		 19.4
(66.9)		 13.4
(56.1)		 6.0
(42.8)		 0.4
(32.7)		 −3.1
(26.4)		 7.2
(45.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) −8.6
(16.5)		 −8.6
(16.5)		 −4.0
(24.8)		 2.0
(35.6)		 9.0
(48.2)		 14.3
(57.7)		 17.3
(63.1)		 15.1
(59.2)		 9.8
(49.6)		 3.6
(38.5)		 −1.6
(29.1)		 −5.5
(22.1)		 3.6
(38.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −12
(10)		 −12.2
(10.0)		 −8.1
(17.4)		 −2.3
(27.9)		 3.5
(38.3)		 9.3
(48.7)		 12.5
(54.5)		 10.8
(51.4)		 6.3
(43.3)		 1.0
(33.8)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 −8.4
(16.9)		 −0.3
(31.5)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −26.8
(−16.2)		 −25.3
(−13.5)		 −19.0
(−2.2)		 −11.2
(11.8)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 2.3
(36.1)		 6.7
(44.1)		 4.7
(40.5)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 −14.7
(5.5)		 −22.0
(−7.6)		 −29.5
(−21.1)
Record low °C (°F) −39.0
(−38.2)		 −38.5
(−37.3)		 −32.1
(−25.8)		 −21.4
(−6.5)		 −10.5
(13.1)		 −4.2
(24.4)		 2.2
(36.0)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 −7.2
(19.0)		 −16.8
(1.8)		 −27.3
(−17.1)		 −40.0
(−40.0)		 −40.0
(−40.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 45
(1.8)		 37
(1.5)		 33
(1.3)		 30
(1.2)		 44
(1.7)		 64
(2.5)		 66
(2.6)		 73
(2.9)		 57
(2.2)		 60
(2.4)		 53
(2.1)		 54
(2.1)		 616
(24.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 21 17 14 12 12 15 15 16 16 18 20 21 197
Source: FMI (Temperature data for Liperi Airport elevation 121 m, precipitation Joensuu Pyhäselkä elevation 79 m)[17]

Demographics

Population

The city of Joensuu has 77,958 inhabitants, making it the 12th most populous municipality in Finland. The Joensuu region has a population of 127,251. In Joensuu, 6.3% of the population has a foreign background, which is below to the national average.[18]

Population size of Joensuu (and merged municipalities) 1990–2020[18]
Year Population
1990
67,363
1995
70,507
2000
71,013
2005
72,292
2010
73,305
2015
75,514
2020
76,935

Languages

Population by mother tongue (2022)[18]

  Finnish (93.6%)
  Russian (3.2%)
  Arabic (0.3%)
  English (0.3%)
  Bengali (0.2%)
  Chinese (0.2%)
  German (0.1%)
  Other (2.1%)

Joensuu is a monolingual Finnish-speaking municipality. In 2022, the majority of the population - 72,590 people or 93.6% - spoke Finnish as their first language. There are 83 Swedish speakers in Joensuu, or 0.1% of the population.[18] 6.3% of the population of Joensuu have a mother tongue other than Finnish or Swedish.[18] As English and Swedish are compulsory school subjects, functional bilingualism or trilingualism acquired through language studies is not uncommon.

At least 40 different languages are spoken in Joensuu. The most commonly spoken foreign languages are Russian (3.2%), Arabic (0.3%), English (0.3%) and Bengali (0.2%).[18]

Immigration

Population by country of birth (2022)[18]
NationalityPopulation %
 Finland72,72693.8
 Soviet Union1,2541.6
 Russia1,0151.3
 Sweden1910.2
 Bangladesh1540.2
 China1420.2
 Syria1300.2
 Germany970.1
 Thailand960.1
 Turkey880.1
 Pakistan800.1
Other1,5402.0

In 2022, there were 4,918 persons with a migrant background living in Joensuu, or 6.3% of the population.[note 1] The number of residents who were born abroad was 4,787, or 6.2% of the population. The number of persons with foreign citizenship living in Joensuu was 3,213.[20] Most foreign-born citizens came from the former Soviet Union, Russia, Sweden and Bangladesh.[18]

The relative share of immigrants in Joensuu's population is below to the national average. However, the city's new residents are increasingly of foreign origin. This will increase the proportion of foreign residents in the coming years.

Religion

In 2022, the Evangelical Lutheran Church was the largest religious group with 64.4% of the population of Joensuu. Other religious groups accounted for 6.3% of the population. 29.3% of the population had no religious affiliation.[18]


Economy

Sokos department store in Joensuu

Joensuu is a growing provincial center with a service-oriented business life. The concentration of information and communication technology companies has taken place in the premises offered by the Joensuu Science Park. Major industrial companies include lock manufacturer Abloy Oy and forest machine manufacturer John Deere. Research and product development in Joensuu is held at the university, science park, METLA and a few companies in areas such as color research and diffractive optics. The companies that paid the most corporate tax in 2015 were Broman Group Oy, which sells car spare parts and accessories, the key company Assa Abloy Oy, the North Karelia Cooperative, E. Hartikainen Oy, which operates in the construction and car business areas, and Autokiinteistöt Laakkonen Oy.[21]

The unemployment rate in Joensuu on December 31, 2018 was 14.7%.[22] Largest employers in 2006: City of Joensuu (4,409 employees), North Karelia Hospital District Consortium (2,220), University of Joensuu (1,244), Abloy Oy (800), North Karelia Education Consortium (537), Pohjois-Karjalan Osuuskauppa or PKO (512), VR companies (430), Pohjois-Karjalan Kirjapaino Oyj or PunaMusta Media (317) and Schauman Wood Oy (292). In the 2010s, the Palkeet Agency[23] and the Finnish Defense Forces Service Center[24] were established in Joensuu.

There are four shopping centers in Joensuu: Iso Myy,[25] Metropol,[26] Plaza Centrum[27] and one department store belonging to the Sokos chain.[28]

Transport

Joensuu Canal

Joensuu has a railway station and a bus station, which offers intercity connections to Helsinki and local connections to several other places. Numbered bus service is available to all parts of Joensuu (Route maps, Timetables). Joensuu also has an airport (located in nearby Liperi), with flights to Helsinki.

Joensuu is located along the Blue Highway, which is an international tourist route from Mo i Rana, Norway to Pudozh, Russia via Sweden.

Sports

The city is known for its basketball club Kataja, which plays in the Finnish first-tier league Korisliiga. Other championship level clubs of Joensuu include Josba (floorball), Mutalan Riento (volleyball), the world leading orienteering club Kalevan Rasti (orienteering) and Joensuun Prihat (women's volleyball). The ice hockey team Jokipojat plays in the Finnish second-tier league Mestis, and their home arena is the Mehtimäki Ice Hall. The local football club Jippo plays in the Finnish second Division. Finnish baseball enjoys popularity as well and the local team, Joensuun Maila, plays in the top division Superpesis.

Notable sportspeople from Joensuu include Jukka Keskisalo, the European champion in 2006 at the 3000m steeplechase; Aki Parviainen, the world champion of javelin throwing in 1999; biathlete Kaisa Mäkäräinen, who won three overall World Cup titles in the 2010–11, 2013–14 and 2017–18 seasons; 1983 World Rally Championship winner Hannu Mikkola; 2013 Global RallyCross Championship champion and current World RX driver Toomas Heikkinen; and National Hockey League ice hockey players Urho Vaakanainen and Juuso Riikola.

Education

Agora building of the Joensuu campus

Joensuu is a city of students.[29] The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) has one of its two main campuses in Joensuu[30] and the University of Applied Sciences Karelia[31] has two Joensuu campuses. There are also five high schools in Joensuu: Lyceum High School,[32] Upper Secondary Normal School,[33] Joensuu Coeducational High School,[34] Finnish-Russian Upper Secondary School of the Eastern Finland,[35] and Pyhäselkä High School.[36]

There is also the Joensuu Sports Academy, which is a co-operation network of educational institutions that offers athletes training and coaching.[37][38][39]

Notable people

Friendship cities

Joensuu is twinned with:[41]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Statistics Finland classifies a person as having a "foreign background" if both parents or the only known parent were born abroad.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Jönssi – Urbaani Sanakirja (in Finnish)
  2. ↑ Jenssi – Urbaani Sanakirja (in Finnish)
  3. 1 2 "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Preliminary population statistics 2023, September". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "City of Joensuu" (PDF). Welcoming Guide. North Karelia University of Applied Sciences. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  8. ↑ The City of Joensuu – An oasis of modern education – Global Education Park Finland
  9. ↑ "North Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Pohjois-Karjalan ammattikorkeakoulu". Archived from the original on 2010-04-17. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  10. ↑ Suomen kunnallisvaakunat (in Finnish). Suomen Kunnallisliitto. 1982. p. 152. ISBN 951-773-085-3.
  11. ↑ "Sisäasiainministeriön vahvistamat kaupunkien, kauppaloiden ja kuntien vaakunat I:9 Joensuu". Kansallisarkiston digitaaliarkisto (in Finnish). Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Ennen 8.4.1949 annettua kunnanvaakunalakia vahvistetut vaakunat I:7 Joensuu". Kansallisarkiston digitaaliarkisto (in Finnish). Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ Steps leading to the establishment of the UEF Archived 2013-02-27 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ "Ilmatieteen laitos".
  15. ↑ "Retkeilijän sää, osa 2: Onko siellä lunta? Näin ennakoit lumen paksuuden ja lumisateet". 19 April 2018.
  16. ↑ "Säähavaintoarkisto - Taulukkotilastot - FMI Avoin data".
  17. ↑ "Finnish Climate normals 1991-2020". FMI. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Number of foreign-language speakers grew by nearly 38,000 persons". Statistics Finland. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "Persons with foreign background". Statistics Finland. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Population structure 2000-2022, urban-rural classification". Statistics Finland. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "Alueen Joensuu yhteisöverotiedot". YLE (in Finnish). November 1, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  22. ↑ Joensuu taskukoossa 2019 (in Finnish). City of Joensuu. p. 5.
  23. ↑ "Palkeet ottaa käyttöön uudenlaista ohjelmistorobotiikkaa". Karjalainen (in Finnish). 2016. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Puolustusvoimien palvelukeskus". Finnish Defence Forces (in Finnish). Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  25. ↑ Iso Myy
  26. ↑ Joensuun Metropol (in Finnish)
  27. ↑ Plaza Centrum (in Finnish)
  28. ↑ Sokos Joensuu (in Finnish)
  29. ↑ "Education - joensuu.fi". www.joensuu.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  30. ↑ "Introduction | UEF". www.uef.fi. Retrieved 2017-09-13.
  31. ↑ "Introduction | KAUS". www.karelia.fi/en/. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  32. ↑ Joensuun lyseon lukio (in Finnish)
  33. ↑ Norssin lukio (in Finnish)
  34. ↑ Yhteiskoulun lukio (in Finnish)
  35. ↑ The school of Eastern Finland, Bilingual and international
  36. ↑ Pyhänselän lukio (in Finnish)
  37. ↑ Urheiluakatemia (in Finnish)
  38. ↑ Sports academy - UEF Kamu
  39. ↑ Sports activities - Karelia University of Applied Sciences
  40. ↑ Ahjopalo, Janne (June 28, 2014). "Nightwishin Floor Jansen yllättää muuttamalla Itä-Suomeen". YLE (in Finnish). Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Kansainvälinen Joensuu" (in Finnish). City of Joensuu. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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