| Republic of Karelia | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Республика Карелия (Russian) | |||
| — Republic — | |||
|
|||
| Anthem: Anthem of the Republic of Karelia | |||
 |
|||
| Coordinates: missing latitude in {{Coord}}Coordinates: missing latitude in {{Coord}} | |||
| Political status | |||
| Country | Russia | ||
| Federal district | Northwestern[1] | ||
| Economic region | Northern[2] | ||
| Established | June 27, 1923 July 16, 1956 November 13, 1991[3] |
||
| Capital | Petrozavodsk | ||
| Government (as of August 2010) | |||
| - Head[4] | Artur Parfenchikov (acting)[5] | ||
| - Legislature | Legislative Assembly[6] | ||
| Statistics | |||
| Area (as of the 2002 Census)[7] | |||
| - Total | 172,400 km2 (66,564.0 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 20th | ||
| Population (2010 Census)[8] | |||
| - Total | 643,548 | ||
| - Rank | 68th | ||
| - Density[9] | 3.73 /km2 (9.7 /sq mi) | ||
| - Urban | 78.0% | ||
| - Rural | 22.0% | ||
| Time zone(s) | MSK (UTC+04:00)[10] | ||
| ISO 3166-2 | RU-KR | ||
| License plates | 10 | ||
| Official languages | Russian[11] | ||
| Official website | |||
The Republic of Karelia (Russian: Респу́блика Каре́лия, tr. Respublika Kareliya, IPA: [rʲɪˈspublʲɪkə kɐˈrʲelʲɪ(j)ə]; Template:Lang-krl; Finnish: Karjalan tasavalta; Template:Lang-vep) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic), located in the northwest of Russia. Its capital is the city of Petrozavodsk. Its population in 2010 was 643,548.[8]
The modern Karelian Republic was founded as an autonomous republic within the Russian SFSR by the Resolution of the Presidium of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK) of June 27, 1923 and by the Decree of the VTsIK and the Council of People's Commissars of July 25, 1923 from the Karelian Labor Commune.
From 1940 to 1956, it was known as the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic, one of the union republics in the Soviet Union. In 1956, it was once again an autonomous republic and remains as part of Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Geography[]
The republic is in the northwestern part of Russia, taking intervening position between the White and Baltic Seas. The White Sea has a shore line of 630 kilometers (390 mi). It has an area of 172,400 km2 (66,600 sq mi). It shares internal borders with Murmansk Oblast (north), Arkhangelsk Oblast (east/south east), Vologda Oblast (south east/south), and Leningrad Oblast (south/south west), and it also borders Finland; the borders measure 723 km. The main bodies of water next to Karelia are the White Sea (an inlet of the Barents Sea) to the north-east and Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga both shared with neighbouring Oblasts to the south. Its highest point is the Nuorunen peak at 576 m (1,890 ft).
Geological map of Scandinavia (in Norwegian)
Geology[]
As a part of the Fennoscandian Shield's ancient Karelian craton, most of the Republic of Karelia's surficial geology is Archaean or Paleoproterozoic, dated up to 3.4 billion years in the Vodlozero block. This area is the largest contiguous Archaean outcrop in Europe and one of the largest in the world.
Rivers[]
There are about 27,000 rivers in Karelia. Major rivers include:
- Vodla River (Vodlajoki, 149 km)
- Kem River (Kemijoki, 191 km)
- Kovda River (Koutajoki)
- Shuya River (Suojoki)
- Suna River (Suunujoki) with Kivach Falls (Kivatšun vesiputous)
- Vyg River (Uikujoki)
Lakes[]
Largest cities of the Republic of Karelia
The Regions of North and South Karelia lie in Finland and the Karelian Republic in Russia. The Karelian Isthmus is now part of Leningrad Oblast.
There are 60,000 lakes in Karelia. The republic's lakes and swamps contain about 2,000 km³ of high-quality fresh water. Lake Ladoga (Finnish: Laatokka) and Lake Onega (Ääninen) are the largest lakes in Europe. Other lakes include:
- Nyukozero (Nuokkijärvi)
- Pyaozero (Pääjärvi)
- Segozero (Seesjärvi)
- Syamozero (Säämäjärvi)
- Topozero (Tuoppajärvi)
- Vygozero (Uikujärvi)
Lakes Ladoga and Onega are located on the south of the republic.
National parks[]
- Vodlozero National Park
- Kalevala National Park
- Paanajärvi National Park
Natural resources[]
The majority of the republic's territory (148,000 km², or 85%) is composed of state forest stock. The total growing stock of timber resources in the forests of all categories and ages is 807 million m³. The mature and over mature tree stock amounts to 411.8 million m³, of which 375.2 million m³ is coniferous.
Fifty useful minerals are found in Karelia, located in more than 400 deposits and ore bearing layers. Natural resources of the republic include iron ore, diamonds, vanadium, molybdenum, and others.
Climate[]
The Republic of Karelia is located in the Atlantic continental climate zone. Average temperature in January is −8 °C (18 °F) and 16.4 °C (61.5 °F) in July. Average annual precipitation is 500–700 mm.[12]
Administrative divisions[]
History[]
Historically, Karelia was a region to the northwest of Russia, east of present-day Finland, controlled by the Novgorod Republic. From the 13th century and onwards, various parts were conquered by Sweden, and incorporated into Swedish Karelia until they were lost to Russia by the Treaty of Nystad in 1721.
In 1920, the province became the Karelian Labour Сommune. In 1923, the province became the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Karelian ASSR). From 1940, it was made into the Karelo-Finnish SSR, incorporating the Finnish Democratic Republic which nominally operated in those parts of Finnish Karelia that were occupied by the Soviet Union during the Winter War. Annexed territories were incorporated into Karelo-Finnish SSR, but after the Continuation War the Karelian Isthmus was incorporated into the Leningrad Oblast. Its status was changed back to an ASSR in 1956. During the Continuation War in 1941 Finland occupied large parts of the area but was forced to withdraw in 1944. Though Finland is not currently pursuing any measures to reclaim Karelian lands ceded to Russia, the "Karelian Question" is still a topic present in Finnish politics, but it has never been discussed officially.
The autonomous Republic of Karelia in its present form was formed on November 13, 1991.
Politics[]
Seat of the Legislative Assembly of Karelia
The highest executive authority in the Republic of Karelia is the Head of the Republic. The acting Head of the Republic is Artur Parfenchikov, who was appointed in February 2017.
The parliament of the Republic of Karelia is the Legislative Assembly comprising fifty deputies elected for a four-year term.
The Constitution of the Republic of Karelia was adopted on February 12, 2001.
Demographics[]
Early 20th-century photo of a bridge across the Shuya River
Population: 643,548 (2010 Census);[8] 645,205 (2002 Census);[13] 791,317 (1989 Census).[14]
Vital statistics[]
| Average population (x 1000) | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Fertility rates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 714 | 11,346 | 5,333 | 6,013 | 15.9 | 7.5 | 8.4 | |
| 1975 | 723 | 12,748 | 6,086 | 6,662 | 17.6 | 8.4 | 9.2 | |
| 1980 | 741 | 12,275 | 7,374 | 4,901 | 16.6 | 10.0 | 6.6 | |
| 1985 | 770 | 13,201 | 8,205 | 4,996 | 17.1 | 10.7 | 6.5 | |
| 1990 | 792 | 10,553 | 8,072 | 2,481 | 13.3 | 10.2 | 3.1 | 1,87 |
| 1991 | 790 | 8,982 | 8,305 | 677 | 11.4 | 10.5 | 0.9 | 1,62 |
| 1992 | 788 | 7,969 | 9,834 | -1,865 | 10.1 | 12.5 | -2.4 | 1,46 |
| 1993 | 782 | 7,003 | 11,817 | -4,814 | 9.0 | 15.1 | -6.2 | 1,30 |
| 1994 | 774 | 6,800 | 13,325 | -6,525 | 8.8 | 17.2 | -8.4 | 1,26 |
| 1995 | 767 | 6,729 | 12,845 | -6,116 | 8.8 | 16.7 | -8.0 | 1,24 |
| 1996 | 760 | 6,461 | 11,192 | -4,731 | 8.5 | 14.7 | -6.2 | 1,19 |
| 1997 | 753 | 6,230 | 10,306 | -4,076 | 8.3 | 13.7 | -5.4 | 1,15 |
| 1998 | 747 | 6,382 | 10,285 | -3,903 | 8.5 | 13.8 | -5.2 | 1,18 |
| 1999 | 740 | 6,054 | 11,612 | -5,558 | 8.2 | 15.7 | -7.5 | 1,12 |
| 2000 | 732 | 6,374 | 12,083 | -5,709 | 8.7 | 16.5 | -7.8 | 1,18 |
| 2001 | 725 | 6,833 | 12,597 | -5,764 | 9.4 | 17.4 | -7.9 | 1,25 |
| 2002 | 717 | 7,247 | 13,435 | -6,188 | 10.1 | 18.7 | -8.6 | 1,33 |
| 2003 | 707 | 7,290 | 14,141 | -6,851 | 10.3 | 20.0 | -9.7 | 1,32 |
| 2004 | 696 | 7,320 | 13,092 | -5,772 | 10.5 | 18.8 | -8.3 | 1,31 |
| 2005 | 686 | 6,952 | 12,649 | -5,697 | 10.1 | 18.4 | -8.3 | 1,24 |
| 2006 | 676 | 6,938 | 11,716 | -4,778 | 10.3 | 17.3 | -7.1 | 1,22 |
| 2007 | 667 | 7,319 | 11,007 | -3,688 | 11.0 | 16.5 | -5.5 | 1,28 |
| 2008 | 659 | 7,682 | 11,134 | -3,452 | 11.7 | 16.9 | -5.2 | 1,35 |
| 2009 | 651 | 7,884 | 10,599 | -2,715 | 12.1 | 16.3 | -4.2 | 1,58 |
| 2010 | 644 | 7,821 | 10,471 | -2,650 | 12.1 | 16.2 | -4.1 | 1,58 |
| 2011 | 641 | 7,711 | 9,479 | -1,768 | 12.0 | 14.7 | -2.7 | 1,60 |
| 2012 | 640 | 8,027 | 9,804 | -1,777 | 12.6 | 15.4 | -2.8 | 1,71 |
| 2013 | 636 | 7,553 | 9,285 | -1,732 | 11.9 | 14.6 | -2.7 | 1,65 |
| 2014 | 634 | 7,816 | 9,245 | -1,429 | 12.3 | 14.6 | -2.3 | 1,74 |
| 2015 | 631 | 7,731 | 9,648 | -1,917 | 12.2 | 15.3 | -3.1 | 1,76(e) |
Ethnic groups[]
According to the 2010 Census,[8] ethnic Russians make up 82.2% of the republic's population, ethnic Karelians 7.4%. Other groups include Belarusians (3.8%), Ukrainians (2%), Finns (1.4%), Vepsians (0.5%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population.
| Ethnic group |
1926 census | 1939 census | 1959 census | 1970 census | 1979 census | 1989 census | 2002 census | 2010 census1 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
| Russians | 153,967 | 57.2% | 296,529 | 63.2% | 412,773 | 62.7% | 486,198 | 68.1% | 522,230 | 71.3% | 581,571 | 73.6% | 548,941 | 76.6% | 507,654 | 82.2% |
| Karelians | 100,781 | 37.4% | 108,571 | 23.2% | 85,473 | 13.0% | 84,180 | 11.8% | 81,274 | 11.1% | 78,928 | 10.0% | 65,651 | 9.2% | 45,570 | 7.4% |
| Belarusians | 555 | 0.2% | 4,263 | 0.9% | 71,900 | 10.9% | 66,410 | 9.3% | 59,394 | 8.1% | 55,530 | 7.0% | 37,681 | 5.3% | 23,345 | 3.8% |
| Ukrainians | 708 | 0.3% | 21,112 | 4.5% | 23,569 | 3.6% | 27,440 | 3.8% | 23,765 | 3.2% | 28,242 | 3.6% | 19,248 | 2.7% | 12,677 | 2.0% |
| Finns | 2,544 | 0.9% | 8,322 | 1.8% | 27,829 | 4.2% | 22,174 | 3.1% | 20,099 | 2.7% | 18,420 | 2.3% | 14,156 | 2.0% | 8,577 | 1.4% |
| Vepsians | 8,587 | 3.2% | 9,392 | 2.0% | 7,179 | 1.1% | 6,323 | 0.9% | 5,864 | 0.8% | 5,954 | 0.8% | 4,870 | 0.7% | 3,423 | 0.5% |
| Others | 2,194 | 0.8% | 20,709 | 4.4% | 29,869 | 4.5% | 20,726 | 2.9% | 19,565 | 2.7% | 21,505 | 2.7% | 25,734 | 3.6% | 16,422 | 2.7% |
| 1 25,880 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.[15] | ||||||||||||||||
Languages[]
Currently Russian is the only official language of the republic. Karelian, Veps and Finnish are officially recognized languages of the republic since 2004, and their survival is promoted.[16] Finnish was the second official language of Karelia from the Winter War 1940 (annex of Finnish territories) up until the 1980s,[17] when perestroika began. Thereafter there were suggestions to raise Karelian as the second official language, but they were repeatedly turned down.[16]
Religion[]
Religion in Karelia (2012)[18][19]
The Karelians have traditionally been Russian Orthodox. Lutheranism was brought to the area by the Finnish immigrants during Sweden's conquest of Karelia and was common in regions that then belonged to Finland. Some Lutheran parishes remain in Karelia.
According to a 2012 survey[18] 27% of the population of Karelia adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, 2% are unaffiliated generic Christians, and 1% are members of Protestant churches. In addition, 44% of the population declared to be "spiritual but not religious", 18% is atheist, and 8% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.[18]
Economy[]
Karelia's gross regional product (GRP) in 2007 was 109.5 billion rubles.[20] This amounts to 151,210 rubles per capita, which is somewhat lower than the national average of 198,817 rubles.[21] The Karelian economy's GRP in 2010 was estimated at 127733.8 million rubles.
Industry[]
Industrial activity in Karelia is dominated by the forest and wood processing sector. Timber logging is carried out by a large number of small enterprises whereas pulp and paper production is concentrated in five large enterprises, which produce about a quarter of Russia's total output of paper.[22] Three largest companies in the pulp and paper sector in 2001 were: OAO Kondopoga (sales of $209.4 mln in 2001), Segezha Pulp and Paper Mill ($95.7 mln) and OAO Pitkjaranta Pulp Factory ($23.7 mln).[12]
In 2007, extractive industries (including extraction of metal ores) amounted to 30% of the republic's industrial output.[20] There are about 53 mining companies in Karelia, employing more than 10,000 people.[23] One of the most important companies in the sector is AO Karelian Pellet, which is the 5th largest of Russia's 25 mining and ore dressing enterprises involved in ore extraction and iron ore concentrate production. Other large companies in the sector were OAO Karelnerud, Mosavtorod State Unitary Enterprise and Pitkjaranta Mining Directorate State Unitary Enterprise.[12]
Processing industries contributed 56,4% of the overall production in 2007. The latter figure includes pulp-and-paper (23.6%), metals and metal-working (7.9%), woodworking (7.1%), foodstuffs (5.8%) and machine-building (3.9%). Production and distribution of electricity, natural gas and water made up 13.6% of the region's output.[20]
Transportation[]
Railroad[]
There is a federal railway (see Murmansk Railway) across Karelia that connects Murmansk Region with St. Petersburg, Moscow, the center of Russia and with Finland. The railroad crosses Petrozavodsk, Kondopoga.
Karelia has a relatively well developed network of transport infrastructure. Water communications connect Karelia with the Barents, Baltic, Black and Caspian Seas through the system of rivers, lakes and canals. A federal railway (see Murmansk Railway) and automobile highways cross Karelia and connect Murmansk Region and Murmansk sea port with St. Petersburg, Moscow, the center of Russia and with Finland. Regular airline service connects Petrozavodsk with Joensuu and Helsinki in Finland.[24] A fast fibre-optic cable link connecting Finnish Kuhmo and Karelian Kostomuksha was built in 2007, providing fast telecommunications.[20]
Foreign trade[]
The Republic's main export partners in 2001 were Finland (32% of total exports), Germany (7%), Netherlands (7%) and the United Kingdom (6%).[12] Main export products were lumber (over 50%), iron ore pellets (13–15%) paper and cardboard (6–9%) and sawn timber with (5–7%). Many of Karelia's companies have received investments from Finland.[12]
Culture[]
View of the old town of Kem in 1916, photograph by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky
Karelia is sometimes called "the songlands" in the Finnish culture, as Karelian poems constitute most of the Karelo-Finnish epic Kalevala.
See also[]
- Music of Karelia
- Sami music
- Pegrema
- Karelian Isthmus
References[]
Notes[]
- ^ Президент Российской Федерации. Указ №849 от 13 мая 2000 г. «О полномочном представителе Президента Российской Федерации в федеральном округе». Вступил в силу 13 мая 2000 г. Опубликован: "Собрание законодательства РФ", №20, ст. 2112, 15 мая 2000 г. (President of the Russian Federation. Decree #849 of May 13, 2000 On the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in a Federal District. Effective as of May 13, 2000.).
- ^ Госстандарт Российской Федерации. №ОК 024-95 27 декабря 1995 г. «Общероссийский классификатор экономических регионов. 2. Экономические районы», в ред. Изменения №5/2001 ОКЭР. (Gosstandart of the Russian Federation. #OK 024-95 December 27, 1995 Russian Classification of Economic Regions. 2. Economic Regions, as amended by the Amendment #5/2001 OKER. ).
- ^ "Карельский государственный архив новейшей истории. Путеводитель". Приложение "Административно-территориальное устройство Республики Карелия". 2003.
- ^ Constitution, Article 46.
- ^ Official website of the Republic of Karelia. Artur Olegovich Parfenchikov
- ^ Constitution, Article 32
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Территория, число районов, населённых пунктов и сельских администраций по субъектам Российской Федерации (Territory, Number of Districts, Inhabited Localities, and Rural Administration by Federal Subjects of the Russian Federation)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_03.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ a b c d "Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1 [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1)]" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census). Federal State Statistics Service. 2011. http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi1612.htm. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
- ^ The density value was calculated by dividing the population reported by the 2010 Census by the area shown in the "Area" field. Please note that this value may not be accurate as the area specified in the infobox is not necessarily reported for the same year as the population.
- ^ Правительство Российской Федерации. Постановление №725 от 31 августа 2011 г. «О составе территорий, образующих каждую часовую зону, и порядке исчисления времени в часовых зонах, а также о признании утратившими силу отдельных Постановлений Правительства Российской Федерации». Вступил в силу по истечении 7 дней после дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Российская Газета", №197, 6 сентября 2011 г. (Government of the Russian Federation. Resolution #725 of August 31, 2011 On the Composition of the Territories Included into Each Time Zone and on the Procedures of Timekeeping in the Time Zones, as Well as on Abrogation of Several Resolutions of the Government of the Russian Federation. Effective as of after 7 days following the day of the official publication.).
- ^ Official the whole territory of Russia according to Article 68.1 of the Constitution of Russia.
- ^ a b c d e "Republic of Karelia". Russia: All Regions Trade & Investment Guide. CTEC Publishing LLC. 2003.
- ^ "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек [Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000]" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. May 21, 2004. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ Demoscope Weekly (1989). "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. [All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers]" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ http://www.perepis-2010.ru/news/detail.php?ID=6936
- ^ a b Karelian, Vepps, and Finnish languages have got the state support in the Republic of Karelia The Official Web Portal of the Republic of Karelia (2004)
- ^ http://www.helsinki-hs.net/news.asp?id=20020129IE17
- ^ a b c Arena - Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia. Sreda.org
- ^ 2012 Survey Maps. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 24-09-2012.
- ^ a b c d The Republic of Karelia in 2007 Helsinki School of Economics
- ^ Валовой региональный продукт на душу населения Федеральная служба государственной статистики
- ^ Regional characteristics. Republic of Karelia Helsinki School of Economics
- ^ "Mining industry of the republic has summed up its work in the first six months of the year". Republic of Karelia. http://www.gov.karelia.ru/gov/News/2009/07/0727_06_e.html. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
- ^ The Republic of Karelia
Sources[]
- Template:RussiaBasicLawRef/kr
External links[]
 |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Karelia. |
- (English) (Russian) Template:Fi icon Official website of the Republic of Karelia
- (English) (Russian) Template:Fi icon Karelia.ru web server
- (English) (Russian) Template:Fi icon Heninen.net - various information about Karelia
- (English) Information about Karelians
- (English) Tracing Finland's eastern border-thisisFINLAND
- (English) Saimaa Canal links two Karelias-thisisFINLAND
- (English) ProKarelia (also available in other languages)
|
Template:Country data Murmansk Oblast |
| ||
 Kainuu,  Lapland, File:Flag of Northern Ostrobothnia.svg Northern Ostrobothnia,  North Karelia and File:Flag of South Karelia.svg South Karelia,  Finland
|
|
Template:Country data Arkhangelsk Oblast | ||
    Karelia
| ||||
| ||||
| Template:Country data Leningrad Oblast | Template:Country data Leningrad Oblast and Template:Country data Vologda Oblast | Template:Country data Arkhangelsk Oblast and Template:Country data Vologda Oblast |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Republic of Karelia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License. |