North Savo

North Savo (or Northern Savonia; Finnish: Pohjois-Savo; Swedish: Norra Savolax) is a region in eastern Finland. It borders the regions of South Savo, Central Finland, North Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, and North Karelia. Kuopio is the largest city in the region and Lake Kallavesi is the largest lake in the region.

North Savo Pohjois-Savo (Finnish) Norra Savolax (Swedish)
Region
Region of North Savo Pohjois-Savon maakunta Landskapet Norra Savolax
Flag Coat of arms
North Savo on a map of Finland
Coordinates: 63°N 27°E
Country	Finland
Historical province	Savonia
Capital	Kuopio
Other towns	Iisalmi, Kiuruvesi, Suonenjoki and Varkaus
Area
• Total	20,366.70 km2 (7,863.63 sq mi)
Population  (2019)
• Total	244,236
• Density	12/km2 (31/sq mi)
GDP
• Total	€7.831 billion (2015)
• Per capita	€31,542 (2015)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 code	FI-15
NUTS	132
Regional mammal	Moose, Alces alces
Regional bird	Black-throated Diver, Gavia arctica
Regional fish	Vendace, Coregonus albula
Regional flower	Rowan, Sorbus aucuparia
Regional stone	Apatite
Regional lake	Lake Juojärvi
Website	pohjois-savo.fi

The region's traditional food is a fish and bacon filling pie called Kalakukko.

Historical provinces

For history, geography and culture see: Savonia

Municipalities

Main article: Municipalities of North Savo

The region of North Savo consists of 19 municipalities, five of which have city status (marked in bold).

Municipalities on the map

Kuopio

Iisalmi

Varkaus

Siilinjärvi

Leppävirta

Lapinlahti

Kiuruvesi

Suonenjoki

Pielavesi

Sonkajärvi

Vieremä

Rauta-
lampi

Joroinen

Kaavi

Tuus-
 niemi

Keitele

Vesanto

Rautavaara

Tervo

Kalla-
vesi

Suvas-
vesi

Nilakka

Kainuu

North
Karelia

South Savo

Central
Finland

North
Ostrobothnia

Municipalities

Over 100 000 inhabitants

Over 30 000 inhabitants

Over 10 000 inhabitants

Over 3 000 inhabitants

< 3 000 inhabitants

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Cities and municipalities of North Savo.

Sub-regions

North Eastern Savonia

• Kaavi
• Rautavaara
• Tuusniemi

Kuopio sub-region

• Kuopio
• Siilinjärvi

Inner Savonia

• Rautalampi
• Suonenjoki
• Tervo
• Vesanto

Varkaus sub-region

• Joroinen (Jorois)
• Leppävirta
• Varkaus

Upper Savonia

• Iisalmi (Idensalmi)
• Keitele
• Kiuruvesi
• Lapinlahti
• Pielavesi
• Sonkajärvi
• Vieremä

List of municipalities

Coat of arms	Municipality	Population	Land area (km2)	Density (/km2)	Finnish speakers	Swedish speakers	Other speakers
	Iisalmi	20,493	763	27	96 %	0 %	4 %
	Joroinen	4,575	575	8	94 %	0.4 %	6 %
	Kaavi	2,614	674	4	99 %	0.2 %	2 %
	Keitele	2,015	483	4	97 %	0.1 %	4 %
	Kiuruvesi	7,400	1,328	6	99 %	0 %	2 %
	Kuopio	124,825	3,242	39	94 %	0.1 %	6 %
	Lapinlahti	8,907	1,097	8	98 %	0.1 %	3 %
	Leppävirta	8,999	1,136	8	98 %	0.1 %	3 %
	Pielavesi	3,993	1,153	3	100 %	0.3 %	2 %
	Rautalampi	2,934	539	5	96 %	0.1 %	4 %
	Rautavaara	1,409	1,151	1	100 %	0 %	2 %
	Siilinjärvi	21,240	401	53	98 %	0.1 %	2 %
	Sonkajärvi	3,602	1,466	2	100 %	0.1 %	1 %
	Suonenjoki	6,670	714	9	97 %	0 %	4 %
	Tervo	1,408	348	4	98 %	0.1 %	2 %
	Tuusniemi	2,320	543	4	97 %	0.1 %	2 %
	Varkaus	19,686	386	51	95 %	0.2 %	5 %
	Vesanto	1,876	423	4	98 %	0.1 %	3 %
	Vieremä	3,361	925	4	96 %	0.1 %	4 %
	Total	248,327	17,346	14	95 %	0.1 %	4 %

Politics

Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in North Savo:

• Centre Party 21.67%
• Finns Party 17.55%
• National Coalition Party 14.80%
• Social Democratic Party 14.57%
• Green League 9.46%
• Christian Democrats 8.61%
• Left Alliance 8.44%
• Movement Now 1.93%
• Blue Reform 1.62%
• Seven Star Movement 0.44%
• Other parties 0.91%

Tertiary education

• University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus (enrollment c. 6,000, in Kuopio)
• Savonia University of Applied Sciences (enrollment c. 6,000, in Kuopio (about 4,500), Varkaus and Iisalmi)
• Kuopio department of Sibelius Academy (c. 150 studying for Master of Music in Church music or Master of Arts in Arts Management)
• Kuopio department of Humak University of Applied Sciences (c. 100 studying to be Sign language Interpreters)

External links

• Official Regional Council of Northern Savonia website