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{{Short description|City in North Ostrobothnia, Finland}}{{About|a city of North Ostrobothnia, Finland|a town in Bayfield County, Wisconsin|Oulu, Wisconsin|other uses|Oulu (disambiguation)}}

factoids

| nickname = Capital of Northern Finland; Capital of Northern ScandinaviaOulu – Capital of Northern Scandinavia| settlement_type = City| image_skyline = Montage_Pokkinen_Oulu.jpg| image_caption = From top, left to right: Rantakatu in downtown Oulu; Oulu City Hall; Lyseo Upper Secondary School and the Oulu Cathedral; Shops along Kirkkokatu; Radisson Blu Hotel along Ojakatu| image_flag = Oulu.lippu.svg| flag_size = 120x70px| image_shield = Oulu.vaakuna.svg| shield_size = 120x80px| image_map = Oulu sijainti Suomi.svg| map_caption = Location of Oulu in Finland65512519display=inline,title}}| subdivision_type = Country| subdivision_name = FinlandRegions of Finland>Region15px|link=North Ostrobothnia) North OstrobothniaSub-regions of Finland>Sub-regionOulu sub-region>Oulu| leader_title = City manager| leader_name = Ari Alatossava| established_title = Charter| established_date = 1605-04-08area_footnotes|Oulu}}area_total_km2|Oulu}}area_land_km2|Oulu}}area_water_km2|Oulu}}| area_urban_km2 = 187.1area_rank|Oulu}}population_as_of|Oulu}}population_footnotes|Oulu}}population_total|Oulu}}population_density_km2|Oulu}}LAST1= TARKOMA DATE= 2008-01-15 PUBLISHER= STATISTICS FINLAND (TILASTOKESKUS) ACCESS-DATE=11 FEBRUARY 2013, | population_density_urban_km2 = 915.8population_rank|Oulu}}demographics_type1|Oulu}}demographics1_footnotes|Oulu}}demographics1_title1|Oulu}}demographics1_info1|Oulu}}demographics1_title2|Oulu}}demographics1_info2|Oulu}}demographics1_title3|Oulu}}demographics1_info3|Oulu}}demographics1_title4|Oulu}}demographics1_info4|Oulu}}demographics_type2|Oulu}}demographics2_footnotes|Oulu}}demographics2_title1|Oulu}}demographics2_info1|Oulu}}demographics2_title2|Oulu}}demographics2_info2|Oulu}}demographics2_title3|Oulu}}demographics2_info3|Oulu}}blank_name|Oulu}}blank_info|Oulu}}Eastern European Time>EET| utc_offset = +02:00Eastern European Summer Time>EEST| utc_offset_DST = +03:00| website = {{Official URL}}}}Oulu ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|oÊŠ|l|uː}} {{respell|OH|loo}},AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY, Oulu, 10 May 2019, MERRIAM-WEBSTER, Oulu, 10 May 2019, {{IPA-fi|ˈou̯lu|lang|Fi-Oulu.oga}}; {{IPA-sv|ʉːlɛɔˈbÉ”rj||sv-UleÃ¥borg.ogg}}) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of North Ostrobothnia. It is located on the northwestern coast of the country at the mouth of the River Oulu. The population of Oulu is approximately {{formatnum:{{#expr:{{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulu}}round -3}}}}, while the sub-region has a population of approximately {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulu}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hailuoto}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kempele}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Liminka}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lumijoki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Muhos}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tyrnävä}}round −3}}}}. It is the {{ordinal|{{Data Finland municipality/population count sequence|Oulu}}}} most populous municipality in Finland, and the fourth most populous urban area in the country. Oulu is also the most populous city in Northern Finland.Oulu’s neighbouring municipalities are: Hailuoto, Ii, Kempele, Liminka, Lumijoki, Muhos, Pudasjärvi, Tyrnävä and Utajärvi. Oulu is the third northernmost city in the world with a population of over 100,000, after Murmansk and Norilsk in Russia.Due to its large population and geopolitical, economic and cultural-historical position, Oulu has been called the “capital of Northern Finland”.WEB,fcb.visitfinland.com/en/discover/destinations/oulu/, Discover Oulu, Finland Convention Bureau, 14 March 2024, Oulu is also considered one of Europe’s “living labs”, where residents experiment with new technologies (such as NFC tags and ubi-screens) on a community-wide scale.BOOK, The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything,archive.org/details/mobilewavehowmob0000sayl, registration, Saylor, Michael, 2012, Perseus Books/Vanguard Press, 63, 9781593157203, Although only in the top 2% of universities,WEB,www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/university-subject-rankings/2022/computer-science-information-systems, QS World University Rankings for Computer Science and Information Systems 2022, the University of Oulu is regionally renowned in the field of information technology.Bachelor of Engineering, Information Technology – OAMKinvestinoulu.com/why-oulu/innovation-alliance/" title="web.archive.org/web/20200811040745investinoulu.com/why-oulu/innovation-alliance/">Oulu Innovation AllianceTietotekniikka, Tietotekniikan tutkinto-ohjelma, tekniikan kandidaatti ja diplomi-insinööri (3v + 2v) – Opintopolku {{in lang|fi}} Oulu has also been very successful in recent city image surveys; in a study published by the Finnish Economic Survey in 2008, Oulu received the best image rating among large cities in the country, including ratings from respondents in all provinces.WEB,www.taloustutkimus.fi/ajankohtaista/uutiset_ja_artikkelit/?x1541726=1631178, Kuntien imagotutkimus 2007, July 11, 2008, November 13, 2020, fi, In the 2023 T-Media survey, Oulu was tied with Kuopio as the second most attractive city in Finland, while Tampere was ranked first.WEB,yle.fi/a/74-20024692, Tampere listattiin jo kolmatta kertaa Suomen vetovoimaisimmaksi kaupungiksi – muista suurista kaupungeista vain Oulu paransi tulostaan, Tampere was listed as the most attractive city in Finland for the third time – of the other big cities, only Oulu improved its result, Anu, Hurme, Yle, 29 March 2023, 29 March 2023, fi, Once known for wood tar and salmon,WEB,oulu2026.eu/en/news/oulu-the-worlds-tar-capital/, Oulu: the world’s tar capital, Oulu Culture Foundation, 14 March 2024, Oulu has become a major high-tech centre, particularly in IT and wellness technology.WEB,www.helsinkitimes.fi/business/17275-what-makes-oulu-a-high-tech-hub-in-the-north.html, What makes Oulu a high tech hub in the north?, Helsinki Times, 14 March 2024, Other important industries include wood processing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paper and steel.WEB,finland.fi/business-innovation/finnish-industry-constantly-adapting-to-a-changing-world/, Finnish industry: Constantly adapting to a changing world, This is Finland, 14 March 2024, Oulu has been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2026.YLE: Oulu on Euroopan kulttuuripääkaupunki 2026 {{in lang|fi}}Oulu in Northern Finland selected as European Capital of Culture for 2026 – High North News

Etymology

The city is named after the river Oulujoki, which originates in the lake Oulujärvi. There have been a number of other theories for the origin of the name Oulu. One possible source is a word in the Sami language meaning ‘flood water’, but there are other suggestions. At minimum, the structure of the word requires that, if originally given by speakers of a Uralic language, the name must be a derivative. In all likelihood, it also predates Finnish settlement and is thus a loanword from one of the now-extinct Saami languages once spoken in the area.The most probable theory is that the name derives from the Finnish dialectal word oulu, meaning “floodwater”, which is related to e.g. Southern Sami Ã¥ulo, meaning “melted snow”, Ã¥ulot meaning “thaw” (of unknown ultimate origin). Two other word families have also been speculated to be related. The first is seen in the Northern Savo dialectal word uula and its Sami counterpart oalli, both meaning “river channel”. The second is the Uralic root reconstructed as *uwa, meaning “river bed” (reflected as vuo in modern Finnish, also in derivatives such as vuolas “heavy-flowing“). To either of these roots, some Sami variety would have to be assumed having added further derivational suffixes.WEB,kaino.kotus.fi/www/verkkojulkaisut/julk125/oulunsalo/oulun_etymologia.shtml, Oulu-nimen etymologia, Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus, 2011-09-16,

History

(File:Oulu1800.jpg|thumb|left|Drawing of central Oulu from the 19th century)Oulu is situated by the Gulf of Bothnia, at the mouth of river Oulujoki, which is an ancient trading site. The city proper was founded on 8 April 1605 by King Charles IX of Sweden,Some History – City of Oulu opposite the fort built on the island of Linnansaari. This took place after favourable peace settlements with Russia, which removed the threat of attack via the main east–west waterway, the river Oulu. {{citation needed|date=December 2014}} The surrounding areas were populated much earlier. Oulu was the capital of the Province of Oulu from 1776 to 2009.In 1822, a major fire destroyed much of the city. {{citation needed|date=December 2014}} The architect Carl Ludvig Engel, chiefly known for the neoclassical (empire style) buildings around Helsinki Senate Square, was enlisted to provide the plan for its rebuilding. With minor changes, this plan remains the basis for the layout of Oulu’s town center. The Oulu Cathedral was built in 1832 to his designs, with the spire being finished in 1844. During the Ã…land War, part of the Crimean War, Oulu’s harbour was raided by the British fleet, who destroyed ships and burned tar houses, leading to international criticism.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

Geography

(File:Oulu sat img.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of the Oulu region.)Oulu is located in northern Finland, a considerable distance from the other cities in the country. It is located {{convert|607|km}} north of the capital city Helsinki. Mainland Finland’s northernmost and southernmost points are roughly equidistant from Oulu. Oulu’s coast sits at the Bothnian Bay (Perämeri in Finnish) and the Swedish mainland is about 180 km directly west across the Bothnian Bay. From the center of Oulu in the direction of Oulunsalo, there is {{ill|Kempeleenlahti|fi|Kempeleenlahti}}, a smaller but wide, meadow-belted bay,Kempeleenlahti Bay, Oulu, Finland and part of it has been listed as a nature conservation area.Kempeleenlahden suojelualue (in Finnish) The nearby island Hailuoto is just off the coast, {{convert|53|km}} away in the Bothnian Bay. Along the coast to the southwest, about {{convert|75|km}} of Oulu is Raahe (Brahestad), known for its historic wooden town, and about {{convert|130|km}} of Oulu is Kalajoki, known for its popular sandy beaches.

Subdivisions

{{Category see also|Districts of Oulu}}(File:Map of Oulu in 1886.jpg|thumb|The map of Oulu from 1886.)Oulu is divided into 106 city districts. The largest of these are Haukipudas, Oulunsalo, Kaakkuri, Ritaharju, Tuira, and {{ill|Kello, Oulu|lt=Kello|fi|Kello (kaupunginosa)}}.The municipality of Ylikiiminki was merged with the city of Oulu on 1 January 2009. Oulu and the municipalities of Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo, and Yli-Ii were merged on 1 January 2013.WEB, Uusi Oulu,www.ouka.fi/uusioulu/, City of Oulu, 19 September 2011, Oulu, fi, New Oulu, 9 September 2011,

Climate

Oulu has a subarctic climate (Köppen: Dfc), bordering a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb). It is the largest Finnish city entirely in this climatic zone as well as one of the largest such in the world. The typical features are cold and snowy winters with short and mild summers.WEB,www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=57820&cityname=Oulu,+Northern+Ostrobothnia,+Finland&units=, Oulu, Finland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase), Weatherbase, 2019-03-03, BOOK,books.google.com/books?id=XZM9DwAAQBAJ&q=despite+the+subarctic+climate+oulu&pg=PT41, Learn Finnish – Level 5: Advanced: Volume 1: Lessons 1–25, Learning, Innovative Language, FinnishPod101.com, Innovative Language Learning, fi, Average annual temperature is {{convert|3.3|°C}}. The average annual precipitation is {{convert|477|mm|2|abbr=on}} falling 105 days per year, mostly in late summer and fall.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}} The warmest temperature ever recorded in Oulu was {{convert|33.3|C}} in July 1957,BOOK, Ilmatieteellinen Keskuslaitos: Suomen meteorologinen vuosikirja, osa 1a 1957, while the coldest temperature on record was {{convert|-41.5|C}} in February 1966.BOOK, Ilmatieteellinen Keskuslaitos:Suomen meteorologinen vuosikirja, osa 1a 1966, Due to Oulu’s far northern location, and its frequent overcast skies, it only sees on average 15 minutes of sunlight per day in December. During the winter solstice days only last 3 hours and 34 minutes with the sun rising 1.9 degrees over the horizon. On the other hand, during the summer solstice days last 22 hours and 3 minutes, with the sun dipping 1 degree below the horizon. This gives Oulu white nights during the summer.WEB, Sunrise and sunset times in Oulu,www.timeanddate.com/sun/finland/oulu, 2022-03-12, www.timeanddate.com, en, On June 21, 2021, Oulu was struck by the Ahti thunderstorm, causing flooding and fall of trees with the wind blowing at more than 30 meters per second.WEB,yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/watch_thunderstorm_slams_oulu_on_monday/11992520, Watch: Thunderstorm slams Oulu on Monday, YLE, 2021-06-21, 2021-06-23, The storm is known to have killed one person and injured two people.WEB,www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/news-in-brief/19453-one-killed-in-oulu-as-meteorologists-warn-of-more-thunderstorms-to-come.html, One killed in Oulu as meteorologists warn of more thunderstorms to come, Helsinki Times, 2021-06-22, 2021-06-23, WEB,pledgetimes.com/weather-it-was-shocking-the-ahti-storm-that-hit-oulu-on-monday-left-extensive-devastation-more-thunderstorms-expected-on-tuesday/amp/, Weather: ‘It was shocking’ – The Ahti storm that hit Oulu on Monday left extensive devastation, more thunderstorms expected on Tuesday, Pledge Times, 2021-06-23, {{Weather box| location = Oulu, 1991–2020 normals, records 1921–present| metric first = yes| single line = yes| Jan record high C = 9.3| Feb record high C = 7.8| Mar record high C = 11.5| Apr record high C = 23.9| May record high C = 29.9| Jun record high C = 32.3| Jul record high C = 33.3| Aug record high C = 30.5| Sep record high C = 25.4| Oct record high C = 21.1| Nov record high C = 11.2| Dec record high C = 8.2| Jan high C = −4.8| Feb high C = −4.7| Mar high C = −0.4| Apr high C = 5.8| May high C = 12.6| Jun high C = 17.9| Jul high C = 21.1| Aug high C = 18.9| Sep high C = 13.2| Oct high C = 5.8| Nov high C = 0.5| Dec high C = -2.7| Jan mean C = −8.2| Feb mean C = −8.4| Mar mean C = −4.4| Apr mean C = 1.6| May mean C = 8.0| Jun mean C = 13.7| Jul mean C = 16.7| Aug mean C = 14.6| Sep mean C = 9.6| Oct mean C = 3.3| Nov mean C = −1.6| Dec mean C = −5.3| Jan low C = −11.9| Feb low C = −12.1| Mar low C = −8.3| Apr low C = −2.5| May low C = 3.4| Jun low C = 9.3| Jul low C = 12.4| Aug low C = 10.6| Sep low C = 6.0| Oct low C = 0.6| Nov low C = −4.2| Dec low C = −8.8| Jan record low C = -37.5| Feb record low C = -41.5| Mar record low C = -32| Apr record low C = -21.4| May record low C = -9.1| Jun record low C = -6.1| Jul record low C = 3.6| Aug record low C = -1.5| Sep record low C = -8.0| Oct record low C = -20.6| Nov record low C = -33| Dec record low C = -37.2| precipitation colour = green| Jan precipitation mm = 32| Feb precipitation mm = 29| Mar precipitation mm = 26| Apr precipitation mm = 23| May precipitation mm = 40| Jun precipitation mm = 51| Jul precipitation mm = 80| Aug precipitation mm = 62| Sep precipitation mm = 49| Oct precipitation mm = 51| Nov precipitation mm = 43| Dec precipitation mm = 39| Jan snow cm = 33| Feb snow cm = 46| Mar snow cm = 43| Apr snow cm = 7| Nov snow cm = 4| Dec snow cm = 17| year snow cm = 150| Jan precipitation days = 9| Feb precipitation days = 8| Mar precipitation days = 7| Apr precipitation days = 6| May precipitation days = 8| Jun precipitation days = 8| Jul precipitation days = 10| Aug precipitation days = 10| Sep precipitation days = 8| Oct precipitation days = 10| Nov precipitation days = 10| Dec precipitation days = 10| daily = Y| Jan humidity = 87| Feb humidity = 86| Mar humidity = 82| Apr humidity = 73| May humidity = 67| Jun humidity = 66| Jul humidity = 71| Aug humidity = 76| Sep humidity = 82| Oct humidity = 86| Nov humidity = 90| Dec humidity = 89| year humidity = 80| Jan sun = 24| Feb sun = 69| Mar sun = 137| Apr sun = 208| May sun = 273| Jun sun = 296| Jul sun = 283| Aug sun = 212| Sep sun = 133| Oct sun = 69| Nov sun = 28| Dec sun = 8| Jan uv = 0| Feb uv = 0| Mar uv = 1| Apr uv = 2| May uv = 3| Jun uv = 4| Jul uv = 4| Aug uv = 3| Sep uv = 2| Oct uv = 1| Nov uv = 0| Dec uv = 0Finnish Meteorological Institute>FMIHTTPS://WWW.ILMATIETEENLAITOS.FI/ILMASTOLLINEN-VERTAILUKAUSI >TITLE=FMI NORMALS 1991–2020FINNISH METEOROLOGICAL INSTITUTE>FMI, 14 October 2021, Finnish Meteorological Institute>FMI (record highs and lows 1921–1961helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/15734/2009nro8.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}FMI (record highs and lows 1961–present)WEB,suja.kapsi.fi/fmi-tilastot.php?taulukkomoodi=true, FMI open dataFinnish Meteorological Institute>FMI, 7 September 2019, Source 3: weather2travel.com (average monthly UV index)WEB, Oulu climate guide,www.weather2travel.com/finland/oulu/climate/, Weather 2 Travel, 13 May 2022, }}

Demographics

Population

The city of Oulu has {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulu }}}} inhabitants, making it the {{ordinal|{{Data Finland municipality/population count sequence|Oulu}}}} most populous municipality in Finland. The Oulu region has a population of {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulu}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hailuoto}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kempele}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Liminka}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lumijoki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Muhos}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tyrnävä}} }} }}, making it the fourth largest region in Finland after Helsinki, Tampere and Turku. Oulu is home to 4% of Finland’s population. 6.1% of the population has a foreign background, which is lower than in the major Finnish cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa or Turku.WEB,stat.fi/en/publication/cln1i2dtgwknt0cut9yem67se, Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years, 2024-04-26, Population structure, Statistics Finland, 1797-5395, 2024-04-29, {{Bar chart| title = Population size of Oulu (and merged municipalities) 1980–2020| label_type = Year| data_type = Population| bar_width = 47| width_units = em| label1 = 1980| label2 = 1985| label3 = 1990| label4 = 1995| label5 = 2000| label6 = 2005| label7 = 2010| label8 = 2015| label9 = 2020 | data_max = 210000| data1 = 121809| data2 = 128869| data3 = 136029| data4 = 146395| data5 = 160851| data6 = 173436| data7 = 185419| data8 = 198525| data9 = 207327}}

Languages

{{Pie chart|thumb = leftDATE= 2024-04-26 PUBLISHER= STATISTICS FINLAND ACCESS-DATE=2024-04-29, |label1 = Finnish|value1 = 93.7|color1 = #002F6C|label2 = Russian|value2 = 0.6|color2 = #D52B1E|label3 = Arabic|value3 = 0.5|color3 = #165D31|label4 = English|value4 = 0.5|color4 = #FFFFFF|label5 = Chinese|value5 = 0.4|color5 = #FFFF00|label6 = Farsi|value6 = 0.3|color6 = #239F40|label7 = Somali|value7 = 0.2|color7 = #4189DD|label8 = Other|value8 = 3.8|color8 = #C5C5C5}}Oulu is the second largest monolingual Finnish-speaking municipality in Finland after Tampere. There are {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Oulu }} }} Swedish speakers in Oulu, or {{Formatnum: {{pct|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Oulu}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Oulu}}|1}}}} of the population. The number of Sámi speakers, Finland’s third official language, is {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Sami|Oulu }} }} inhabitants. As English and Swedish are compulsory school subjects, functional bilingualism or trilingualism acquired through language studies is not uncommon.At least 100 different languages are spoken in Oulu. The most common foreign languages are Russian (0.6%), Arabic (0.5%), English (0.5%) and Chinese (0.4%).

Immigration

{|class=“wikitable” style="float:right;” Population by country of birth (2022)! Nationality || Population || %| 94.2| 0.9| 0.4| 0.3| 0.2| 0.2| 0.2| 0.2| 0.2| 0.2| 0.1 | 2.9 {{As of|2023}}, 13,040 people with a migrant background lived in Oulu, or 6.1% of the population.{{refn|Statistics Finland classifies a person as having a “foreign background” if both parents or the only known parent were born abroad.WEB, 18 September 2023, Persons with foreign background, Statistics Finland,www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset_en.html, |group=note}} There are 13,986 residents who were born abroad, which or 6.5% of the population. The number of foreign citizens in Oulu is 9,405.WEB,stat.fi/en/publication/cl8lphfzbrm4j0cw1b5wyor1h, Population structure 2000–2022, urban-rural classification, 26 May 2023, Statistics Finland, 12 September 2023, en, Most foreign-born citizens come from the former Soviet Union, Sweden, Iraq, China and India.WEB,stat.fi/en/publication/cl8lprraorrr20dut5a0tywm5, Number of foreign-language speakers grew by nearly 38,000 persons, 31 May 2023, Statistics Finland, 12 September 2023, en, The relative share of immigrants in Oulu’s population is below the national average. Nevertheless, the city’s new residents are increasingly of foreign origin. This will increase the proportion of foreign residents in the coming years.

Religion

In 2023, the Evangelical Lutheran Church was the largest religious group with 67.2% of the population of Oulu. Other religious groups accounted for 1.9% of the population. 30.9% of the population had no religious affiliation.Key figures on population by region, 1990-2023 Statistics FinlandOulu, as well as other parts of North Ostrobothnia, is well known as a strong support area of the Conservative Laestadianism revival movement.Lestadiolaiset pitävät Pohjois-Pohjanmaan väkiluvun kasvussa – MTVuutiset (in Finnish) A Laestadian background has been estimated to be common in construction sector management.Lestadiolaisyrittäjä hyötyy uskonyhteisön verkostoista – Taloushyödyt houkuttavat jäämään, vaikka vakaumus olisi jo mennyt – YLE (in Finnish) Oulu was the site of the 2018 Oulu child sexual exploitation scandal. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä declared that “Sex crimes against children are inhumane acts of incomprehensible evil.“NEWS, Aleksi Teivainen, Police: 10 people suspected of sex crimes against minors in Oulu,www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/16008-police-10-people-suspected-of-sex-crimes-against-minors-in-oulu.html, 31 January 2019, Helsinki Times, 6 December 2018, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä (Centre) on Wednesday issued an official statement on the much-discussed case, saying the events have shocked many, for a good reason. “Sex crimes against children are inhumane acts of incomprehensible evil,” he stated,

Economy

File:Stora Enso Oulu 2006 01 26.JPG|thumb|right|Stora EnsoStora EnsoFile:Nokia Peltola Oulu 2006 04 14.JPG|thumb|right|Former NokiaNokia(File:Technopolis.jpg|thumb|right|Technopolis Linnanmaa is home to nearly 200 corporations.)As of 31 December 2008, the active working population was employed as follows:WEB,www.oulu.ouka.fi/city/pdf/2011/tietoaoulusta_ENG_kevyt.pdf, Business and industry, 27 June 2012work= Information about Oulu location= Oulu, {| class=“wikitable”! style="background:#efefef;” | Industries! style="background:#efefef;” | Working population 11,111 5,449 582 16.3% (2016)! style="background:#efefef;” | Total! style="background:#efefef; text-align: right;” | 75,158In 2011, the most important employers were:{| class=“wikitable”! style="background:#efefef;” | Employer! style="background:#efefef;” | No. of employeesOulu University Hospital>Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District style="text-align: right;” | 6,144University of Oulu >Nokia Networks >Nokia>Nokia Group style="text-align: right;” | 2,000Kesko>Kesko Group style="text-align: right;” | 1,426S Group) >Stora Enso>Stora Enso Group style="text-align: right;” | 1,155Itella>Itella Corporation style="text-align: right;” | 780 653

Culture

File:20120824- MG 8352.jpg|thumb|Air Guitar World ChampionshipsAir Guitar World ChampionshipsThe best known cultural exports of the city of Oulu are the Air Guitar World Championships held annually in August, Mieskuoro Huutajat (also known as Screaming Men), the now defunct metal band Sentenced, and one of the best ice hockey teams in Europe, Oulun Kärpät.Many artists, writers, and musicians live in the city. A variety of concerts – rock, classical, and jazz – as well as other cultural events take place each year. Examples include the Oulu Music Video Festival, the Air Guitar World Championships, and the Musixine Music Film Competition, all in August. In July, the annual rock festival Qstock takes place. The Oulu Music Festival is held in winter and the Oulunsalo Music Festival in summer. The Irish Festival of Oulu takes place each October, and the International Children’s Film Festival each November.Museums in Oulu include the Northern Ostrobothnia museum, the Oulu Museum of Art (OMA), the Tietomaa science center, and the Turkansaari open-air museum.Notable statues and sculptures in Oulu include a sculpture of Frans Michael Franzén and The Bobby at the Market Place statue.Finlands’ Eurovision representatives 2021 rock band Blind Channel are from Oulu. They placed 6th in the competition.Kalmah is a melodic death metal-band from Oulu that formed in 1998.

Food

In the 1980s, rössypottu, salmon soup and sweet cheese (juhannusjuusto) were named Oulu’s traditional parish dishes.BOOK, Jaakko Kolmonen, Kotomaamme ruoka-aitta: Suomen, Karjalan ja Petsamon pitäjäruoat, 171, Helsinki, Patakolmonen, 1988, 951-96047-3-1, fi,

Sights

File:Kirkkokatu Oulu 20121206 01.JPG|thumb|right|RotuaariRotuaariFile:Oulu market hall 20051028.jpg|thumb|right|Oulu Market HallOulu Market Hall(File:Bicycles Ahtisaari Square Oulu 20170728.jpg|thumb|right|Uusi Seurahuone restaurant on the Ahtisaari Square)

• Tietomaa, a science center with over 150 exhibits
• The Rapids Center, the area in the estuary of the Oulu river consisting of small islands connected with bridges and fountains in the middle of the river, and including a housing area of building blocks planned by Alvar Aalto
• The Market Square with the City Library, the City Theatre, the Toripolliisi statue and old salt and tar storehouses
• Hupisaaret Islands, a large park area located in the estuary of the Oulu river
• The F. M. Franzen memorial
• The Koitelinkoski rapids
• The Northern Ostrobothnia museum
• The Pateniemi Sawmill Museum
• The Vehicle Museum
• The University of Oulu Botanical Gardens (situated in Linnanmaa)
• The Arctic Gallery
• Technopolis, the technology village
• Turkansaari (historical open-air museum)
• Spa Hotel Eden and sand beach in Nallikari recreation and tourism area
• Mannerheim Park
• Old observatory in Linnansaari, built in 1875 on top of the ruins of the Castle of Oulu
• Oulu Museum of Art

Churches

File:Oulu Cathedral 2020-07-03.jpg|thumb|right|Oulu CathedralOulu Cathedral

• Cathedral
• Haukipudas Church
• Holy Family of Nazareth Church
• Holy Trinity Cathedral of Oulu
• Kiiminki Church
• Oulujoki Church
• Oulunsalo Church
• St. Luke’s Chapel
• Tuira Church
• Ylikiiminki Church

Other points of interest

• Qstock music festival
• Oulu Music Video Festival
• Air Guitar World Championships
• Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
• The Irish Festival of Oulu
• Laitakari beacon tower
• Madetoja Hall, housing the Oulu Music Centre, the residence of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra
• Oulu Hall (a large indoor sports facility consisting of a low dome, which looks somewhat like a landed flying saucer)
• Terwa Marathon & Run, event in late May (since 1989)
• The Terva-skiing event in early March (since 1889)
• The Winter Swimming World Championship {{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

Transport

File:OH-LKE Embraer 190 0960-8.jpg|thumb|left|Finnair is one of the main operators of the Oulu airport with regular flights to HelsinkiHelsinkiOulu is served by Oulu Airport, the second largest airport in Finland by passenger volume. It is located {{convert|15|km|0}} south-west of the city centre.The Port of Oulu is one of the busiest harbours on the Bothnian Bay. It includes four separate harbour areas: Vihreäsaari oil and bulk docks, Nuottasaari docks and Oritkari docks. There is also a ferry service in Oulu, which is mostly used between Oulunsalo and the Hailuoto Island.IS: Vieraille lauttamatka on osa Hailuodon idylliä (in Finnish)The shortest travel time from Oulu railway station to Helsinki Central railway station is 5 h 34 min, operated by VR. Other destinations include Kolari, Rovaniemi, Seinäjoki and Tampere.The most important road in Oulu is Highway 4 (E8/E75) that runs from Helsinki to Utsjoki via Lahti, Jyväskylä, Oulu, Kemi and Rovaniemi. Other highways running to and from Oulu are Highway 20 to Kuusamo and Highway 22 to Kajaani.MAP, AffectoGenimap Finland Oy, Autoilijan Tiekartta 2007 – Road map, 2006, 1:800,000, 978-951-593-047-7, File:Oulu Bus Station 20161105.jpg|thumb|right|Oulu Bus StationOulu Bus StationOulu is notable for its transportation network dedicated to non-motor vehicular traffic, including pedestrians and bicycles (termed “light” traffic in Finland). In 2022, the city contained more than {{convert|950|km|mi}} of pathways and more than 300 underpasses and bridges devoted exclusively to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The network is used year-round. The ratio of walking and cycling traffic pathways to residents is the highest in Finland and the cycling mode share is 20 percent.Jeffrey Pratte, “Mainstreaming Bicycling in Winter Cities: The case of Oulu, Finland”, Masters thesis, University of Manitoba (Canada), 2011. P. 99-100Anders Swanson, “Winter Cycling for Everyone”, (Video, 21:30 min.), Vimeo, 2013BBC, “The cycle-mad city in Finland that doesn’t stop for snow”, (Video, 2 min.) (File:Bicycles Kirkkokatu Oulu 20180119.jpg|thumb|left|Parked bicycles on Kirkkokatu Street in January)Even in winter, bicycle commuting remains strong in Oulu, in spite of the cold, dark, and snow. About 12% of winter trips are by bicycle, and about half of trips to school or university are. The city has a robust system for keeping bike paths maintained and clear of snow, and bike paths and lanes are plowed before roadways to encourage such human-scale winter transit in the city where 12% already do so.Laurel Ives. (20 December 2023). “How Oulu became the winter cycling capital of the world”. BBC website Retrieved 25 December 2023. The Winter Cycling Federation was founded in Oulu in 2013, and the first Winter Cycling Congress was held there.WEB,www.euronews.com/my-europe/2021/01/22/meet-the-bike-loving-finnish-city-that-keeps-pedalling-even-in-the-snow, Meet the bike-loving Finnish city that keeps pedalling even in the snow, Sara Lilja Steensig, January 25, 2021, Euronews, December 21, 2023, WEB,www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/feb/12/ice-cycles-northerly-world-cities-winter-bicycle-revolution, Ice cycles: the northerly world cities leading the winter bicycle revolution, Anders Swanson, 12 February 2016, The Guardian, December 21, 2023, In 2015, a large underground parking facility, Kivisydän (Stone Heart), opened in the city center directly beneath main shopping streets. The network of parallel roads for cars and pedestrians was drilled in the rock at the depth of {{convert|30|m|sp=us}}. The parking facility includes two ramps, 900 visitor parking lots (expandable to 1500), six access points to the ground served by 19 elevators (expandable to nine and 25), a service facility for commercial delivery vehicles, and ubi-screens that guide the driver to the selected ground access point and help locate the parked car by its license number.WEB,www.oulunliikekeskus.fi/parking, Oulun Liikekeskus – Parking, 2016-03-09, dead,www.oulunliikekeskus.fi/parking," title="web.archive.org/web/20160310085459www.oulunliikekeskus.fi/parking,">web.archive.org/web/20160310085459www.oulunliikekeskus.fi/parking, 2016-03-10, WEB,www.sito.fi/en/2014/08/kivisydan-parking-facility-in-oulu/, Kivisydän parking facility in Oulu, Oulunliikekeskus.fi, 24 December 2017,www.sito.fi/en/2014/08/kivisydan-parking-facility-in-oulu/," title="web.archive.org/web/20160310073910www.sito.fi/en/2014/08/kivisydan-parking-facility-in-oulu/,">web.archive.org/web/20160310073910www.sito.fi/en/2014/08/kivisydan-parking-facility-in-oulu/, 2016-03-10, dead,

Solar power

In 2015, the Kaleva Media printing plant in Oulu became the most powerful photovoltaic solar plant in Finland, with 1,604 solar photovoltaic (PV) units on its roof. Although the city of Oulu, located near the Arctic Circle, has only two hours of weak sunlight in December, the photovoltaic cells work almost around the clock in the summer. The cold climate means the PV panels can get up to a 25% boost per hour, as they don’t overheat.WEB,insideclimatenews.org/news/22022020/solar-finland-nordic-renewables-sanna-marin-climate-targets-turku, Solar Power Just Miles from the Arctic Circle? In Icy Nordic Climes, It’s Become the Norm, Hockenos, Paul, 2020-02-24, InsideClimate News, en-US, 2020-02-26, Because the sun is quite low in the sky at this latitude, vertical PV installations are popular on the sides of buildings. These solar walls also capture light reflected from snow.Snow is not necessarily cleared from rooftop solar installations.The local utility, Oulun Energia, is owned by the city of Oulu. The energy mix it receives from the Nordic-wide grid includes wood pellets, waste incineration, bioenergy, hydro-electric, geothermal, wind, nuclear, peat, natural gas and coal.

Sports

File:Kärpät kultaa 2005.jpg|thumb|right|Kärpät wins the Finnish championship in 2005 after beating JokeritJokeritFile:Bandyliiga Final Oulu 20140315 04.JPG|thumbnail|right|Oulun Luistinseura beat Jyväskylän Seudun Palloseura in the 2014 Finland men’s national bandy championship final at the Raksila Artificial Ice Rink Pakkalan kenttäRaksila Artificial Ice Rink Pakkalan kenttäIce hockey is the most popular spectator sport in Oulu. The local club Kärpät has won the SM-liiga championship title eight times (1981, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2018). It has also twice been the runner-up in the IIHF European Champions Cup, in 2005 and in 2006.In football AC Oulu plays in Veikkausliiga, the premier division of Finnish football. So far OPS has claimed the Finnish football championship only twice by winning Mestaruussarja in 1979 and in 1980. Other notable football clubs include OLS, OTP and JS Hercules.Oulu has one well-known bandy club, OLS, which plays in Bandyliiga and has become Finnish champions 14 times, most recently in 2014. The other bandy club, OPS, with its 7 championships and a bronze medal as late as in 2009, announced it would be closing down after the 2009–10 season. In 2001 the city was the main venue for the Bandy World Championship.Oulu is also home to several other sports clubs such as Oulu Northern Lights (American football), Oulun NMKY (Basketball), Oulun Lippo (Pesäpallo), Oulun Pyrintö (Track and field), SK Pohjantähti (Orienteering)), OYUS (Rugby union), Oulu Irish Elks (Gaelic football) and ETTA (Volleyball).Oulun Tervahiihto is an annual ski marathon event held since 1889.Terwa Run & Marathon is an annual running event held since 1989 in late May.A former motorcycle speedway track known as the Iinat Motor Sports Center was located north of the Pirttilammentie and east of the Iinatintie ({{coord|64|57|31|N|25|34|23|E|}}).WEB,www.speedwaysanomat.fi/tekstit/radat.html, Track locations, Speedway Sanomat, 14 February 2024, The Center opened in 1979 and hosted many events, including the Finnish Final, as part of the qualifying round of the Speedway World Championship in 1983.WEB,dlprezes.pl.tl/SPEEDWAY--_--Indywidualne-mistrzostwa-%26%23346%3Bwiata-----------k1-World-Speedway-Championship-k2-.htm, World Championship, Metal Speedway, 14 February 2024, WEB,www.speedway.org/history/, World Championship, Speedway.org, 14 February 2024,

Education

File:University-of-Oulu-2010.jpg|thumb|left|University of OuluUniversity of OuluThe University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences have their main campuses located in Oulu.Oulu is home to the most northerly architecture school in the world. The school is best known for its strong regionalistic ideas for developing architecture. This movement is named “the Oulu school” (“Oulun koulu“) of architecture. {{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}Oulu Vocational College has over 13 000 students. It houses several different study subjects in different units which are spread over Oulu and neighbouring municipalities. Oulu Vocational College School of Business Studies is one of the few vocational schools which has game programming in its curriculum.Oulu International School is one of nine schools in Finland offering basic education in English. There’s also a Swedish-speaking private school (Swedish Svenska Privatskolan i UleÃ¥borg) for students up until high school. The school is the northernmost Swedish-speaking school in Finland.WEB, SprÃ¥kstrategi – Svenska Privatskolan i UleÃ¥borg,www.spsu.fi/om-oss/sprakstrategi/, 2020-08-22, sv-SE,

Notable people

• Saara Aalto, singer, X Factor UK finalist
• Eero Aho, actor
• Outi Alanko-Kahiluoto, politician
• Marcus Amand, Finnish-French racing driver
• Peter von Bagh, film historian and director
• Blind Channel, a post-hardcore and nu metal band
• Vladislav Delay, electronic musician
• Eeva Riitta Fingerroos, Paralympic swimmer
• Frans Michael Franzén, poet
• Lars Gallenius, 17th century painter
• Heidi Hautala, politician
• Matti Hautamäki, ski jumper
• Aaro Hellaakoski, poet
• John von Julin, pharmacist, factory owner and vuorineuvos
• Yrjö Kallinen, politician
• Jorma Kontio, harness driver
• Pekka Korpi, harness driver
• V.A. Koskenniemi, poet
• Ville Laihiala, musician and former frontman of the discontinued local metal band Sentenced
• Vilho Lampi, painter
• Taavetti Lukkarinen, former foreman of Kemi Oy; man who convicted to death and hanged of treason
• Fanni Luukkonen, the leader of Lotta Svärd
• Leevi Madetoja, composer
• Impaled Nazarene, nuclear metal band
• Iivo Niskanen, Olympic champion cross-country skier
• Kerttu Niskanen, cross-country skier
• Patrik Pasma, racing driver
• Leena Peltonen-Palotie, geneticist
• Michael Maria Penttilä, serial killer
• Susanna Pöykiö, figure skater
• Ville Ranta, comic artist
• Mika Ronkainen, filmmaker
• Keke Rosberg, 1982 Formula One world champion
• Kauko Röyhkä, author and rock musician
• Martti Suosalo, singer and actor
• Mikael Toppelius, church painter
• Juha Väätäinen, athlete
• Sara Wacklin, teacher and writer
• Three former presidents of the country Kaarlo Juho StÃ¥hlberg, Kyösti Kallio and Martti Ahtisaari, also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate
• Ice Hockey players: Kari Jalonen, Mikael Granlund, Markus Granlund, Joni Pitkänen, Reijo Ruotsalainen, Mika Pyörälä, Lasse Kukkonen, Markus Nutivaara and Sebastian Aho
• Football/soccer players: Rasmus Karjalainen, Otso Liimatta, Aki Lahtinen, Antti Niemi, Markus Heikkinen, Janne Hietanen, Mika Nurmela and Seppo Pyykkö
• Qiyu Zhou, chess player, commentator, and streamer

International relations

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland}}

Twin towns and sister cities

Oulu is twinned with:WEB,www.ouka.fi/oulu/kansainvalisyys/ystavyyskaupungit, Ystävyyskaupungit (Twin Cities), 2013-07-27, Oulun kaupunki (City of Oulu), fi, {{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Alta, Norway (since 1948)WEB,www.alta.kommune.no/vennskapsbyer.530847-72060.html, Vennskapsbyer, Alta kommune, no,
• Arkhangelsk, Russia (since 1993)WEB,www.arhcity.ru/?page=232/0, ru:Информация о городах-побратимах, Arhcity.ru, October 26, 2007, 27 July 2013, ru,
• Astana, Kazakhstan (since 2013)WEB,en.tengrinews.kz/politics_sub/Astana-and-Finnish-Oulu-become-twin-cities-18692/, Astana and Finnish Oulu become twin-cities, Tengrinews.kz, 19 April 2013, 24 December 2017,
• Boden, Sweden (since 1948)
• Bursa, Turkey (since 1978)WEB,www.bursa.bel.tr/kardes-sehirler/sayfa/261/, KardeÅŸ Åžehirler, 2013-07-27, Bursa BüyükÅŸehir Belediyesi Basın Koordinasyon Merkez, Tüm Hakları Saklıdır, 2016-05-23,www.bursa.bel.tr/kardes-sehirler/sayfa/261/," title="web.archive.org/web/20160523225737www.bursa.bel.tr/kardes-sehirler/sayfa/261/,">web.archive.org/web/20160523225737www.bursa.bel.tr/kardes-sehirler/sayfa/261/, dead,
• Halle, Germany (since 1968)
• Leverkusen, Germany (since 1968)
• Odesa, Ukraine (since 1957)
• Siófok, Hungary (since 1978)
• Hangzhou, China (since 2010)

{{div col end}}Oulu also maintains relationships with cities twinned to former municipalities merged with Oulu in 2013:

• Matera, Italy (twinned with Oulunsalo since 2010)
• Szigetszentmiklós, Hungary (twinned with Haukipudas since 1992)
• Kronstadt, Russia (twinned with Haukipudas, Kiiminki, and Yli-Ii since 1991)

Partnership and twinning cities

In addition Oulu has eight ‘Partnership & Twinning cities’:WEB,www.ouka.fi/oulu/kansainvalisyys/partneri-ja-kummikaupungit, Partneri- ja kummikaupungit (Partnership and twinning cities), 2013-07-27, Oulun kaupunki (City of Oulu), fi, {{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Glasgow, UK
• Ilembula, Tanzania
• Karlsruhe, Germany
• LuleÃ¥, Sweden
• Matagalpa, Nicaragua
• Sendai, Japan (since 2005)
• UmeÃ¥, Sweden
• Vienne, France

{{div col end}}

International municipal projects

The educational department was a part of the Lifelong Learning Programme 2007–2013 in Finland.

See also

{hide}cmn|

• Air Guitar World Championships
• Bothnian Bay
• Hailuoto Island
• Kastelli community centre
• Laanila Highschool
• Lake Oulujärvi
• Oulu Aircraft Hijacking
• Oulu Castle
• Oulu Highway
• Oulu University Hospital
• Rotuaari
• Toppila Power Station
• Tribevine

{edih}

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons and category|Oulu}}{{Wikivoyage}}

• {{Official}}
• www.visitoulu.fi/en/home" title="web.archive.org/web/20170502221122www.visitoulu.fi/en/home">VisitOulu.fi – official tourism website of Oulu (archived 2 May 2017)

{hide}Geographic location {edih}{{NorthernOstrobothnia}}{{50 most populous Nordic urban settlements}}{{50 most populous Finnish municipalities}}{{European Capital of Culture}}{{Authority control}}