Kymenlaakso

Kymenlaakso Kymenlaakson maakunta Kymmenedalens landskap
Region
Coat of arms
Kymenlaakso on a map of Finland
Country	Finland
Historical province	Uusimaa, Karelia, Tavastia
Area
• Total	5,595.36 km^2 (2,160.38 sq mi)
Population (2013)
• Total	180,845
• Density	32/km^2 (84/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
ISO 3166 code	FI-09
NUTS	186
Regional bird	Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
Regional flower	Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Website	www.kymenlaakso.fi

Kymenlaakso (literally Kymi Valley) (Swedish: Kymmenedalen) is a region in Finland. It borders to the regions Uusimaa, Päijänne Tavastia, Southern Savonia and South Karelia. Its name means literally The Valley of River Kymijoki. 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 55,000 inhabitants is located at the delta of River Kymijoki and has the most important import harbour in Finland. Other cities are Kouvola further in the inland which has after a municipal merger 88,000 inhabitants and the old bastion town Hamina.

Historical provinces

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

Municipalities

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

Kotka-Hamina Sub-region: Hamina (Fredrikshamn) (21,249) Kotka (54,849) Miehikkälä (2,165) Pyhtää (Pyttis) (5,360) Virolahti (Vederlax) (3,438)

Kouvola Sub-region: Iitti (Itis) (6,959) Kouvola (86,943)

Politics

Results of the Finnish parliamentary election, 2011 in Kymenlaakso:

• True Finns 25.1%
• Social Democratic Party 23.2%
• National Coalition Party 17.8%
• Centre Party 13.9%
• Left Alliance 7.7%
• Christian Democrats 6.7%
• Green League 4.1%

Gallery

• 
  A general view of Kotka town centre
• 
  Kymijoki River
• 
  Hamina Town Hall
• 
  Österviken Bay in the Gulf of Finland, Pyhtää
• 
  Inkeroinen church in Kouvola
• 
  Haukkavuori Tower, Kotka
• 
  Mustila Arboretum in Kouvola, the biggest and oldest one in Finland
• 
  Ships in Kotka harbour
• 
  A view from the round streets of Hamina
• 
  Anjala church, Kouvola
• 
  Sunila Factory; Kymenlaakso has a strong tradition of pulp mills
• 
  Anjala Manor, Kouvola
• 
  Architecture in Kotka
• 
  Bastions in Hamina
• 
  Kuusankoski church in Kouvola
• 
  Old harbour in Kotka with the Maritime Centre Vellamo during Meripäivät, an annual sea-related festival in Kotka
• 
  Kaunissaari, an island in Pyhtää
• 
  Repovesi National Park, Kouvola
• 
  Kymi church in Kotka
• 
  A view from Verla mill village in Kouvola
• 
  Kouvola Town Hall
• 
  The orthodox St. Peter-Paul Church in Hamina
• 
  Ahvenkoski Rapids in Kymijoki River, Pyhtää
• 
  A cannon from Salpa Line, Miehikkälä
• 
  The Rapakivi granite found especially in Virolahti was used in great measures to build the city of St Petersburg

External links

• Regional Council of Kymenlaakso

Coordinates: 60°30′N 027°00′E / 60.500°N 27.000°E