North Karelia

North Karelia (Finnish: Pohjois-Karjala; Swedish: Norra Karelen; Russian: Северная Карелия) is a region in eastern Finland. It borders the regions of Kainuu, Northern Savonia, Southern Savonia and South Karelia, as well as Russia.

The city of Joensuu is the capital of North Karelia.

North Karelia is renowned among public health officials. In the 1960s Finland led industrialized nations in heart disease mortality rates. North Karelia had Finland's highest incidence. In 1972 a long-term project was undertaken which targeted this risk in North Karelia. The resulting improvement in public health is still considered remarkable, a model for the rest of the nation.

Historical province

For history, geography and culture see: Karelia

Municipalities

North Karelia is divided into 13 municipalities.

North Karelia (electoral district)

North Karelia (formerly Kuopio East) was an electoral district represented in the Finnish Eduskunta (parliament). In 2013 it was merged with Northern Savonia electoral district to form the Savonia-Karelia electoral district. It covered the administrative region of North Karelia, with a population of 169,722 (as of 2002). North Karelia elected six members of the Eduskunta, when in 2005 there were still seven seats.

The constituency was largely rural, centred on the city of Joensuu. The largest party in the Finnish parliamentary elections has traditionally been the Centre Party.

The reduction of seats caused the Green League leader Tarja Cronberg to lose her seat in 2007 elections, even she got 11,7% and second the most votes in constituency.

Current members of parliament 2007–

Karelia

Coordinates: 63°N 32°E / 63°N 32°E / 63; 32

Karelia (Karelian, Finnish and Estonian: Karjala; Russian: Карелия, Kareliya; Swedish: Karelen), the land of the Karelian peoples, is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance for Finland, Russia, and Sweden. It is currently divided between the Russian Republic of Karelia, the Russian Leningrad Oblast, and Finland (the regions of South Karelia and North Karelia).

Use of name

Various subdivisions may be called Karelia. Finnish Karelia was a historical province of Finland, and is now divided between Finland and Russia, often called just Karjala in Finnish. The eastern part of this chiefly Lutheran area was ceded to Russia after the Winter War of 1939–40. This area is the "Karelia" of the Karelian question in Finnish politics.

The Republic of Karelia is a Russian federal subject, including the so-called "East Karelia" with a chiefly Russian Orthodox population.

Within present-day Finland, Karjala refers to the regions of South and North Karelia, although parts of historical Karelia also lies within the region of Kymenlaakso (Miehikkälä and Virolahti, Northern Savonia (Kaavi, Rautavaara and Säyneinen) and Southern Savonia (Mäntyharju).

Karelia Suite

Jean Sibelius's Karelia Suite, Op. 11, was written in 1893 for the Viipuri Students' Association. It was premiered in the Imperial Alexander University in Helsinki, Grand Duchy of Finland, under the title Karelia Music. The suite is one of Sibelius's earlier works and remains one of his most popular.

Karelia Music was written in the beginning of Sibelius' compositional career, and the complete music consists of an Overture, 8 Tableaux, and 2 Intermezzi. The music runs about 44 minutes, as opposed to the suite, which lasts about 12 minutes.

The rough-hewn character of the music was deliberate - the aesthetic intention was not to dazzle with technique but to capture the quality of "naive," folk-based authenticity. Historical comments have noted the nationalistic character of the music.

Orchestration

Ralph Wood has commented on the role of the percussion in this composition.

History

"The noise in the hall was like an ocean in a storm. I was at the opposite end of the hall and could not distinguish a single note. The audience did not have the patience to listen and was hardly aware of the music. The orchestra was actually there, behind the pillars. I thrust my way through the crowd and managed to reach the orchestra after a good deal of effort. There were a few listeners. Just a handful."

Karelia Fine Tobaccos

Karelia Fine Tobaccos is the name of the oldest tobacco company in Greece. It was founded in 1888 in Kalamata, where it has its headquarters until today .It is the leading exporter of cigarettes in Greece with exports to 65 countries. The company is led by Victoria Karelia as chairman. The Karelias family have an estimated fortune of around €200 million.

References

Sources