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Kainuun maakunta
Kajanalands landskap

Region	FI134
Province	Oulu
Historical province	Ostrobothnia
Area	21,567 km²
Population  - Total (August 2006)  - Density	84,740 3.5/km²
Regional bird	Siberian Jay (Perisoreus infaustus)
Regional fish	European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus)
Regional flora	Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Map highlighting the location of the Region of Kainuu

Kainuu (Swedish: Kajanaland) is a region (maakunta / landskap) of Finland. It is located in the Oulu province and it borders the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia, North Karelia and Northern Savonia. In the east it also borders Russia.

The administrative capital is Kajaani. Kainuu has around 85,000 inhabitants (2006) and the population is in decline. The nature of Kainuu features forested hills, lakes and vast expanses of uninhabited woods at its most typical — 95% of the land area is forest. The climate is continental.

Original inhabitants of Kainuu were Sami hunter-fisherers. In the 1600s, the Governor General of Finland Per Brahe fostered the population growth of Kainuu by giving a ten year tax exemption to settlers. It was necessary to populate Kainuu with Finnish farmers because the area was threatened from the east by the Russians. The immigrants to Kainuu were mainly from Savo and because of that the Kainuu dialect is very close to the Savo dialect.^[1]

Currently the population is in decline mainly because the traditional livelihood is agriculture which is not very profitable any more in that region.

The economy of Kainuu is also driven by the lumber industry, which employs 8% of the workforce in the region.^[2] In addition, Kainuu Brigade, a base of the Finnish Defence Forces, is located near Kajaani.

For history, geography and culture see: Ostrobothnia

For origin of the name Kainuu see: Origin of the name Kainuu

Main article: Municipalities of Kainuu

The municipalities of Kainuu:
1. Kajaani
2. Vaala
3. Paltamo
4. Ristijärvi
5. Sotkamo
6. Kuhmo
7. Suomussalmi
8. Hyrynsalmi
9. Puolanka

Kainuu has nine municipalities. A new, democratically elected organ, the regional council (maakuntavaltuusto), is being tested in Kainuu. The municipalities are independent, but this independence has been questioned as health care, among other responsibilities of the municipalities, is difficult to govern on such a small scale. The municipalities in Kainuu are testing a model, where health care and some other services are produced on the regional level.

• Nälkämaan laulu
• Vuolijoki

• Kainuu - Official site(in English)
• [1] - Portal

v • d • e Regions of Finland
Åland · Central Finland · Central Ostrobothnia · Eastern Uusimaa · Finland Proper · Kainuu · Kymenlaakso · Lapland · North Karelia · Northern Ostrobothnia · Northern Savonia · Ostrobothnia · Pirkanmaa · Päijänne Tavastia · Satakunta · South Karelia · Southern Ostrobothnia · Southern Savonia · Tavastia Proper · Uusimaa

Coordinates: 64°30′N, 28°00′E