Kymenlaakso
Kymmenedalen
Region
Region of Kymenlaakso
Kymenlaakson maakunta (Finnish)
Landskapet Kymmenedalen (Swedish)
Coat of arms of Kymenlaakso
Coat of arms
Kymenlaakso on a map of Finland
Kymenlaakso on a map of Finland
Coordinates: 60°30′N 027°00′E / 60.500°N 27.000°E / 60.500; 27.000
CountryFinland
Historical provinceUusimaa, Karelia, Tavastia
Former provinces
CapitalKotka and Kouvola
Area
 • Total5,595.36 km2 (2,160.38 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total174,167
 • Density31/km2 (81/sq mi)
GDP
[1]
 • Total€6.158 billion (2015)
 • Per capita€34,350 (2015)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
ISO 3166 codeFI-09
NUTS186
Regional animalEurasian otter (Lutra lutra)
Regional birdEurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Regional fishEuropean sprat (Sprattus sprattus)
Regional flowerYellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Regional stoneRapakivi granite
Regional lakeLake Vuohijärvi
Websitewww.kymenlaakso.fi

Kymenlaakso (Finnish: [ˈkymenˌlɑːkso]; Swedish: Kymmenedalen; lit. "Kymi/Kymmene Valley") is a region in Finland. It borders the regions of Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme, South Savo and South Karelia and Russia (Leningrad Oblast). Its name means literally The Valley of River Kymi. Kymijoki is one of the biggest rivers in Finland with a drainage basin with 11% of the area of Finland. The city of Kotka with 51,000 inhabitants is located at the delta of River Kymi and has the most important import harbour in Finland. Other cities are Kouvola further in the inland which has after a municipal merger 81,000 inhabitants and the old bastion town Hamina.

The Kymi River in Kotka

Kymenlaakso was one of the first industrialized regions of Finland. It became the most important region for paper and pulp industry in Finland. Since the late 1900s many plants have closed, which has caused some deindustrialization, unemployment and population decline in Kymenlaakso, especially in those communities that were built around plants in Kouvola.

Historical provinces

For history, geography and culture see: Uusimaa, Karelia and Tavastia

Municipalities

The region of Kymenlaakso is made up of six municipalities, of which three have city status (marked in bold).

Politics

Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in Kymenlaakso:

References

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