South Savo

Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues Template:Infobox settlement South Savo<ref>Alueluokitusmuutokset 1.1.2019 www.stat.fi, accessed 19 October 2020</ref> (or Southern Savonia; Template:Langx; Template:Langx) is a region in the south-east of Finland. It borders the regions of North Savo, North Karelia, South Karelia, Kymenlaakso, Päijät-Häme, and Central Finland. The total area of South Savo is 18,768.33 km² (7,246.5 sq mi), with a population of 153,738 (2011). South Savo is located in the heart of the Finnish lake district, and contains Lake Saimaa, the largest lake in Finland. The three major towns in the region are Mikkeli, Savonlinna and Pieksämäki.

Historical provinces

For history, geography and culture see: Savo

History

South Savo was the main part of the old Mikkeli Province, established in 1831. Some municipalities were transferred from the county to Central Finland Province, which was established in 1960. Mikkeli Province was abolished in the province reform of 1997, when Regions were established. The province of South Savo belonged to the Eastern Finland Province. In 2002, Kangaslampi moved from the province of South Savo to the province of North Savo. Suomenniemi became part of Etelä-Savo in 2013 when it merged with Ristiina to form the city of Mikkeli. At the beginning of 2021, Joroinen moved to the province of North Savo and Heinävesi to the province of North Karelia as a result of provincial and social and health care reforms.

Municipalities

Template:Main The region of South Savo consists of 12 municipalities, three of which have city status (marked in bold).

Sub-regions

Template:Columns-start Mikkeli sub-region

• File:Hirvensalmi.vaakuna.svg Hirvensalmi
• File:Kangasniemi.vaakuna.svg Kangasniemi
• File:Mikkeli.vaakuna.svg Mikkeli (S:t Michel)
• File:Mäntyharju.vaakuna.svg Mäntyharju
• File:Puumala.vaakuna.svg Puumala

Template:Column Pieksämäki sub-region

• File:Juva.vaakuna.svg Juva
• File:Pieksämäki.vaakuna.svg Pieksämäki

Savonlinna sub-region

• File:Enonkoski.vaakuna.svg Enonkoski
• File:Rantasalmi.vaakuna.svg Rantasalmi
• File:Savonlinna.vaakuna.svg Savonlinna (Nyslott)
• File:Sulkava.vaakuna.svg Sulkava

List of municipalities

File:Ohratalkkunaa, rapeaa tirripaistia ja piimää.jpg

Talkkuna with Pork

Coat of arms	Municipality	Population	Land area (km2)	Density (/km2)	Finnish speakers	Swedish speakers	Other speakers
Coat of arms of Enonkoski	Enonkoski	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
coat of arms of Hirvensalmi	Hirvensalmi	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
Coat of arms of Juva	Juva	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
Coat of arms of Kangasniemi	Kangasniemi	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr:Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
coat of arms of Mikkeli	Mikkeli	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
Coat of arms of Mäntyharju	Mäntyharju	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr:Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
Coat of arms of Pieksämäki	Pieksämäki	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
Coat of arms of Puumala	Puumala	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
coat of arms of Rantasalmi	Rantasalmi	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
Coat of arms of Savonlinna	Savonlinna	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
Coat of arms of Sulkava	Sulkava	Template:Data Finland municipality	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipalityround 0}}	{{#expr: Template:Data Finland municipality/Template:Data Finland municipality round 0}}	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 1 }} %	{{#expr:(Template:Data Finland municipality/native language other/Template:Data Finland municipality*100)round 0 }} %
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Politics

Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in South Savo:

• Centre Party 23.47%
• Social Democratic Party 21.41%
• National Coalition Party 18.39%
• Finns Party 16.55%
• Green League 9.47%
• Christian Democrats 4.46%
• Left Alliance 2.95%
• Movement Now 1.42%
• Blue Reform 0.85%
• Seven Star Movement 0.40%
• Other parties 0.63%

Cuisine

The best known local cuisine is fried vendace, often served with potato puree, and a semicircle-shaped pastry called lörtsy.<ref>Finnish fast food – fried vendace (muikku) www.visitsaimaa.fi, accessed 19 October 2020</ref><ref>Lörtsy | Traditional Sweet Pastry From Southern Savonia, Finland www.tasteatlas.com, accessed 19 October 2020</ref>

External links

• South Savo Regional Council (official site).