Puolanka

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Puolanka (Template:IPA; Template:Langx, also Template:Lang) is a municipality in Finland located in the Kainuu region. The municipality has a population of Template:Data Finland municipality/population count ({{#time: j F Y|Template:Data Finland municipality/population count }})<ref name="population_count"/> and covers an area of Template:Convert of which Template:Convert is water.<ref name="total_area"/> The population density is Template:Convert. The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

The fir-tree topped line in the coat of arms of Puolanka refers to local forestry and the cattle bells to livestock management and past grazing in forest lands. The coat of arms was designed by Aake Kaarnama, and the Puolanka municipal council approved it at its meeting on 8 June 1962. The Ministry of the Interior approved the coat of arms for use on 29 August of the same year.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Puolanka has been called the "most pessimistic municipality in Finland".<ref name="yle"/> In 2019, the municipality gained worldwide publicity when the BBC published a video about Puolanka, describing it as the "most pessimistic town in the world".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pessimism has a long tradition in the Kainuu region, and the residents of Puolanka decided to make it their trademark, which is why the residents organize various events related to the topic every year.<ref name="yle">Template:Cite web</ref>

The name Puolanka is of Sámi origin, meaning "burning land" (compare to modern Northern Sámi word buollán "burning land"), with -nka being a Finnish feature.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

History

The first permanent settlers in Puolanka came in the 1550s.<ref name=":0"/>

The municipality of Puolanka was established in the year of 1867. In that same year the Puolanka parish became independent from the Hyrynsalmi church to which it had previously belonged to administratively. The municipal council of Puolanka was formed in the year of 1916.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

At its peak Puolanka had a population of about 7,520 in 1960. Towards the end of the 1960s, however, Puolanka's population began to decline, alike other municipalities within Kainuu.<ref name=":0"/>

Geography

Ranked one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Finland, the Template:Convert Hepoköngäs, is located Template:Convert from the center of Puolanka.

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Villages

Villages within Puolanka are as follows: Template:Div col

Aittokylä
Auho
Joukokylä
Kivarinjärvi
Kotila
Kongasmäki
Leipivaara
Lylykylä
Naulaperä
Puokio
Puolanka
Rasinkylä
Suolijärvi
Vihajärvi
Väyrylä
Yli-Oterma
Törmänmäki

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Politics

Results of the 2023 Finnish parliamentary election in Puolanka:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of 2021 Finnish municipal elections, Puolanka municipal council is made up of: Centre Party (13 seats), Left Alliance (4), and Finns Party (4).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>