Posio

Municipality in Lapland, Finland

Coat of arms

Location of Posio in Finland

Coordinates: 66°06.5′N 028°10′E / 66.1083°N 28.167°E / 66.1083; 28.167Country

FinlandRegionLaplandSub-regionEastern LaplandCharter1926SeatAholaGovernment

• Municipal managerHeli KnutarsArea

(2018-01-01)^[1]

• Total3,544.90 km² (1,368.69 sq mi) • Land3,039.68 km² (1,173.63 sq mi) • Water506.14 km² (195.42 sq mi) • Rank16th largest in FinlandPopulation

(2023-12-31)^[2]

• Total2,923 • Rank220th largest in Finland • Density0.96/km² (2.5/sq mi)Population by native language

^[2]

• Finnish97.7% (official) • Swedish0.1% • Others2.2%Population by age

^[3]

• 0 to 148.3% • 15 to 6450.5% • 65 or older41.2%Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET) • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)Websitewww.posio.fi/en/

Posio is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Lapland. The municipality has a population of 2,923 (31 December 2023)^[2] and covers an area of 3,544.90 square kilometres (1,368.69 sq mi) of which 506.14 km² (195.42 sq mi) is water.^[1] The population density is 0.96 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.5/sq mi). Neighbour municipalities are Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi, Ranua, Salla, Kuusamo, Taivalkoski and Pudasjärvi.

The municipality has a single language, Finnish.

Major employers in Posio are the municipality itself, a major pottery manufacturer Pentik and agriculture (especially dairy farming).

The European route E63 runs through the northern-eastern parts of the municipality.

Korouoma canyon and natural reserve is located in Posio.

8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of the center of Posio is a microstate called Valtio [fi], founded by Ari "Paska" Peltonen in 2006.^[5]

Sights and events

Posio's most renowned attractions are the Pentik-mäki Culture Centre, Riisitunturi National Park, Korouoma Nature Reserve, and the clear waters of lakes Kitkajärvi and Livojärvi. There are also many outdoor recreational things to do in Posio.

The world's northernmost ceramics factory is located in Posio. Pentik Oy interior design company was established in 1971 by Anu and Topi Pentikäinen.

Regular events in Posio are the Posio Fair, the amateur theatre event Teatterihelinät, and the Traditional Fish Fair Market (Muikkumarkkinat) in July.

Notable people

Kaarlo Maaninka (born 1953), Finnish long distance runner
Soile Isokoski (born 1957), Finnish lyric soprano
Sini Karjalainen (born 1999), Finnish hockey player

Locations

Ala-Suolijärvi

References

^ ^a ^b "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 26 April 2024. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
^ "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.
^ ^a ^b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
^ ”Nää on mun maita!” – Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish)