Ruokolahti

Template:Infobox settlement Ruokolahti (Template:IPA; Template:Langx;<ref>Namn på kommuner från finska till svenska; Kotimaisten kielten keskus</ref> literally translated the "Reed Bay") is a municipality of Finland, situated in south-eastern Finland, in the region of South Karelia. Neighbouring municipalities are Imatra, Lappeenranta, Taipalsaari, Puumala, Sulkava, Punkaharju, Parikkala and Rautjärvi. Ruokolahti covers an area of Template:Convert of which Template:Pct is water.<ref name="total_area" />

The municipality has Template:Data Finland municipality/population count inhabitants ({{#time: j F Y|Template:Data Finland municipality/population count}}),<ref name="population_count" /> but the population doubles in summer as holidaymakers occupy the 3,000 summer cottages in the region.<ref name="discoverruokolahti">Template:Cite web (Text from Discover Ruokolahti web site with a permission.)</ref>

Ruokolahti is known for its natural environment, for example Kummakivi is a balancing rock located at 61° 29' 36.4596" N, 28° 25' 45.5016" E in Ruokolahti<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and is protected.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the west there is the Lake Saimaa and in the east there are hundreds of smaller lakes. The Salpausselkä ridges run through the area.<ref name="discoverruokolahti" /> In 2025, The Times highlights the Huuhanranta beach on the shores of Lake Saimaa among the attractions of Ruokolahti, referring it as the "Saimaa Riviera".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The famous sniper Simo Häyhä, also knows as nickname the "White Death", lived in Ruokolahti for 57 years after the 1939–40 Winter War.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He is buried there in the graveyard of Ruokolahti Church.

The municipal coat of arms of Ruokolahti is a canting arms that directly refers to the name of the municipality, including reeds appearing in it. Wave line is usually used to describe a local body of water. The coat of arms was designed by Gustaf von Numers and was confirmed for use on September 11, 1951.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>