Kainuu is a region (maakunta / landskap) of Finland. It is located in the Oulu province and it borders the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia, North Karelia and Northern Savonia. In the east it also borders to Russia.

The administrative capital is Kajaani (or "three-J Kajjjaani", with an extremely long palatal approximant, in the local dialect). In Kainuu, there are 88 000 inhabitants, and the population is in decline. The nature of Kainuu features the forested hills, lakes and vast expanses of uninhabited woods at its most typical — 95% of the land area is forest. The climate is continental.

In the 1500's, the Governor General of Finland Per Brahe fostered the population growth of Kainuu by giving a ten year tax exemption to converts to Christianity. It was necessary to populate Kainuu with Finns, because the area was threatened from the east by the Russians. The immigrants to Kainuu were mainly from Savo, so that the Kainuu dialect is very close to the Savo dialect . Currently, the population is in decline mainly because the traditional livelihood is agriculture, which is not very profitable any more in that region. However, there is some forest industry and the Kainuu Brigade in the area.

Historical province

For History, Geography and Culture see: Ostrobothnia

Regional Council

Main article: Kainuu Regional Council

Municipalities

Main article: Municipalities of Kainuu

Kainuu is divided into 10 municipalities.

• Hyrynsalmi
• Kuhmo
• Puolanka
• Suomussalmi
• Kajaani (Swedish: Kajana)
• Paltamo
• Ristijärvi
• Sotkamo
• Vaala
• Vuolijoki

Heraldry

Main article: Heraldry of Kainuu

See also

• Nälkämaan laulu

External links

• Kainuu Regional Council - Official site
• Kainuu - Portal