Salla

This article is about the municipality in Finland. For other uses, see Salla (disambiguation).

Municipality in Lapland, Finland

Salla

Kyelijävri

Municipality

Sallan kunta
Salla kommun

Coat of arms

Location of Salla in Finland

Coordinates: 66°50′N 028°40′E﻿ / ﻿66.833°N 28.667°E﻿ / 66.833; 28.667
Country|  Finland
Region| Lapland
Sub-region| Eastern Lapland
Charter| 1857
Government

• Municipal manager| Erkki Parkkinen
Area

(2018-01-01)[1]

• Total

| 5,873.08 km2 (2,267.61 sq mi)
• Land| 5,729.81 km2 (2,212.29 sq mi)
• Water| 142.73 km2 (55.11 sq mi)
• Rank| 7th largest in Finland
Population

(2024-10-31)[2]

• Total

| 3,285
• Rank| 207th largest in Finland
• Density| 0.57/km2 (1.5/sq mi)
Population by native language

[3]

• Finnish| 96% (official)
• Swedish| 0.3%
• Sami| 0.1%
• Others| 3.6%
Population by age

[4]

• 0 to 14| 8.7%
• 15 to 64| 52%
• 65 or older| 39.3%
Time zone| UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Website| www.salla.fi/en/

Salla (Kuolajärvi until 1936) (Inari Sami: Kyelijävri) is a municipality of Finland, located in Lapland. The municipality has a population of 3,285 (31 October 2024)[2] and covers an area of 5,873.08 square kilometres (2,267.61 sq mi) of which 142.73 km2 (55.11 sq mi) is water.[1] The population density is 0.57 inhabitants per square kilometre (1.5/sq mi).

The nearby settlement of Sallatunturi is home to the Salla Ski Resort.

## History

[edit]

Areas ceded to Soviet Union at the end of World War II

Salla is in the Eastern Lapland and as a border area was affected by the Second World War. Red Army troops invaded Finland at Salla during the Winter War but were stopped by the Finnish Army (see Battle of Salla). Parts of the municipality were ceded to the Soviet Union after the war. The ceded part is sometimes called "Old Salla" or Vanha Salla. During the Continuation War the old town of Salla was on the Soviet side of the border. The German XXXVI Corps attacked the Soviet positions in an operation code-named Polarfuchs. With the help of the Finnish 6th Division it managed to occupy all of the ceded territories. At the end of the war the German troops were pushed out of Lapland by Finnish troops in the Lapland War.

The following villages were ceded to the Soviet Union: Alakurtti, Korja (Korya), Kuolajärvi (Kuoloyarvi), Lampela, Sallansuu, Yläkurtti (Yulyakurtti), Sovajärvi (Sovayarvi), Tuutijärvi (Tuutiyarvi) and Vuorijärvi (Vuoriyarvi).

In January 2021, the mayor of Salla, Erkki Parkkinen, launched a bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympic Games to raise awareness of climate change and highlight the threat the climate crisis poses to Salla and its ecosystem, which is dependent on low temperatures for most of the year.[6]

## Transportation

[edit]

Salla is the terminus of a freight-only railway line from Kemijärvi. In 2006, the Finnish Rail Administration announced proposals to close the line.[7] The railway formerly extended beyond Salla into Russia, but has never carried international traffic.

## Geography

[edit]

Neighbour municipalities are Kemijärvi, Kuusamo, Pelkosenniemi, Posio and Savukoski.

### Climate

[edit]

Salla has a subarctic climate (Dfc). Summer days are mild with about 1/3 of all days experiencing precipitation with nights tending to be cool. Winters are very long, cold, snowy, and extremely cloudy, lasting from the beginning of October through April, with mid-winter thaws being rare, and cold snaps relatively common. Spring and Autumn tend to be cool, not very variable, and short, lasting only a couple weeks to a few weeks in length.

The low temperature record of Salla is -50 °C (-58 °F), which was recorded in Naruska in 1985. It was also the record of Finland until 1999. On 28 January 1999, the unofficial record of Finland, -54,3 °C (-65,7 °F), was recorded in Naruska.[8]

Climate data for Salla (1991-2020 normals, records 1961-present)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 6.3
(43.3)  | 6.2
(43.2)  | 9.7
(49.5)  | 17.5
(63.5)  | 28.0
(82.4)  | 30.3
(86.5)  | 31.5
(88.7)  | 31.0
(87.8)  | 22.9
(73.2)  | 14.5
(58.1)  | 8.4
(47.1)  | 4.9
(40.8)  | 31.5
(88.7)
Mean maximum °C (°F)  | 1.0
(33.8)  | 1.3
(34.3)  | 4.8
(40.6)  | 11.5
(52.7)  | 20.6
(69.1)  | 24.9
(76.8)  | 26.3
(79.3)  | 24.2
(75.6)  | 18.0
(64.4)  | 9.5
(49.1)  | 4.0
(39.2)  | 2.0
(35.6)  | 27.3
(81.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | −8.0
(17.6)  | −7.5
(18.5)  | −2.1
(28.2)  | 3.8
(38.8)  | 10.4
(50.7)  | 16.6
(61.9)  | 19.7
(67.5)  | 16.8
(62.2)  | 10.8
(51.4)  | 2.8
(37.0)  | −2.5
(27.5)  | −5.6
(21.9)  | 4.6
(40.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | −12.0
(10.4)  | −11.6
(11.1)  | −6.9
(19.6)  | −0.7
(30.7)  | 5.7
(42.3)  | 11.7
(53.1)  | 14.8
(58.6)  | 12.1
(53.8)  | 6.9
(44.4)  | 0.3
(32.5)  | −5.3
(22.5)  | −9.1
(15.6)  | 0.5
(32.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | −16.7
(1.9)  | −16.5
(2.3)  | −12.6
(9.3)  | −5.8
(21.6)  | 0.7
(33.3)  | 6.3
(43.3)  | 9.5
(49.1)  | 7.2
(45.0)  | 2.9
(37.2)  | −2.6
(27.3)  | −8.5
(16.7)  | −13.1
(8.4)  | −4.1
(24.6)
Mean minimum °C (°F)  | −32.9
(−27.2)  | −32.4
(−26.3)  | −28.4
(−19.1)  | −19.8
(−3.6)  | −7.1
(19.2)  | −0.9
(30.4)  | 1.8
(35.2)  | −1.3
(29.7)  | −5.5
(22.1)  | −15.7
(3.7)  | −23.0
(−9.4)  | −28.9
(−20.0)  | −35.6
(−32.1)
Record low °C (°F)  | −45.3
(−49.5)  | −46.3
(−51.3)  | −38.2
(−36.8)  | −30.8
(−23.4)  | −19.2
(−2.6)  | −6.7
(19.9)  | −1.5
(29.3)  | −6.5
(20.3)  | −15.2
(4.6)  | −29.7
(−21.5)  | −36.6
(−33.9)  | −40.2
(−40.4)  | −46.3
(−51.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 37
(1.5)  | 31
(1.2)  | 31
(1.2)  | 30
(1.2)  | 41
(1.6)  | 61
(2.4)  | 77
(3.0)  | 59
(2.3)  | 54
(2.1)  | 50
(2.0)  | 40
(1.6)  | 39
(1.5)  | 550
(21.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 20  | 17  | 16  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 16  | 16  | 18  | 21  | 20  | 206
Average relative humidity (%)  | 87  | 86  | 80  | 73  | 68  | 68  | 74  | 80  | 85  | 90  | 92  | 89  | 81
Source 1: FMI climatological normals for Finland 1991-2020[9]
Source 2: record highs and lows[a]

Climate data for Salla Naruska (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1991–present)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 6.2
(43.2)  | 5.5
(41.9)  | 9.0
(48.2)  | 16.8
(62.2)  | 28.2
(82.8)  | 31.3
(88.3)  | 30.5
(86.9)  | 30.4
(86.7)  | 23.0
(73.4)  | 14.3
(57.7)  | 7.9
(46.2)  | 6.2
(43.2)  | 31.3
(88.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | −8.4
(16.9)  | −7.8
(18.0)  | −2.2
(28.0)  | 3.5
(38.3)  | 10.1
(50.2)  | 16.5
(61.7)  | 19.5
(67.1)  | 16.9
(62.4)  | 10.8
(51.4)  | 2.5
(36.5)  | −2.7
(27.1)  | −5.9
(21.4)  | 4.4
(39.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | −13.1
(8.4)  | −12.9
(8.8)  | −8.2
(17.2)  | −1.7
(28.9)  | 4.8
(40.6)  | 11.0
(51.8)  | 13.9
(57.0)  | 11.1
(52.0)  | 6.2
(43.2)  | −0.3
(31.5)  | −5.9
(21.4)  | −9.9
(14.2)  | −0.4
(31.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | −18.5
(−1.3)  | −18.3
(−0.9)  | −14.8
(5.4)  | −7.5
(18.5)  | −0.4
(31.3)  | 4.9
(40.8)  | 7.9
(46.2)  | 5.7
(42.3)  | 1.4
(34.5)  | −3.4
(25.9)  | −9.3
(15.3)  | −14.4
(6.1)  | −5.6
(21.9)
Record low °C (°F)  | −41.4
(−42.5)  | −41.8
(−43.2)  | −37.2
(−35.0)  | −31.8
(−25.2)  | −14.1
(6.6)  | −4.7
(23.5)  | −2.1
(28.2)  | −5.4
(22.3)  | −10.1
(13.8)  | −27.6
(−17.7)  | −35.1
(−31.2)  | −38.8
(−37.8)  | −41.8
(−43.2)
Source 1: https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/1991-2020-lampotilatilastot
Source 2: https://kilotavu.com/fmi-tilastot.php?taulukkomoodi=true

Climate data for Salla Värriötunturi (elevation 360m (1181 ft), 1991-2020 normals, extremes 1974–present)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °C (°F)  | 4.0
(39.2)  | 4.2
(39.6)  | 7.4
(45.3)  | 15.5
(59.9)  | 25.8
(78.4)  | 28.8
(83.8)  | 30.0
(86.0)  | 30.3
(86.5)  | 21.7
(71.1)  | 12.5
(54.5)  | 6.7
(44.1)  | 4.5
(40.1)  | 30.3
(86.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | −8.2
(17.2)  | −8.1
(17.4)  | −3.7
(25.3)  | 1.9
(35.4)  | 7.9
(46.2)  | 14.6
(58.3)  | 18.0
(64.4)  | 15.1
(59.2)  | 9.1
(48.4)  | 1.3
(34.3)  | −3.5
(25.7)  | −5.9
(21.4)  | 3.2
(37.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | −10.8
(12.6)  | −10.7
(12.7)  | −6.7
(19.9)  | −1.5
(29.3)  | 4.0
(39.2)  | 10.1
(50.2)  | 13.6
(56.5)  | 11.2
(52.2)  | 6.1
(43.0)  | −0.7
(30.7)  | −5.6
(21.9)  | −8.3
(17.1)  | 0.1
(32.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | −13.7
(7.3)  | −13.5
(7.7)  | −9.8
(14.4)  | −4.9
(23.2)  | 0.5
(32.9)  | 6.0
(42.8)  | 9.7
(49.5)  | 7.9
(46.2)  | 3.5
(38.3)  | −2.6
(27.3)  | −7.9
(17.8)  | −10.9
(12.4)  | −3.0
(26.6)
Record low °C (°F)  | −38.3
(−36.9)  | −31.1
(−24.0)  | −26.5
(−15.7)  | −19.0
(−2.2)  | −13.4
(7.9)  | −3.9
(25.0)  | −0.1
(31.8)  | −2.9
(26.8)  | −7.3
(18.9)  | −18.5
(−1.3)  | −27.6
(−17.7)  | −31.1
(−24.0)  | −38.3
(−36.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 37
(1.5)  | 32
(1.3)  | 34
(1.3)  | 38
(1.5)  | 52
(2.0)  | 72
(2.8)  | 78
(3.1)  | 67
(2.6)  | 58
(2.3)  | 59
(2.3)  | 40
(1.6)  | 40
(1.6)  | 607
(23.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 22  | 19  | 18  | 16  | 16  | 15  | 18  | 16  | 16  | 20  | 22  | 22  | 220
Source 1: https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/1991-2020-lampotilatilastot
Source 2: https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=102012

#### Note

[edit]

1. ^ Extreme values from 1961-1999, at Salla kk weather station;[10] Extreme values from 1999-present, at Salla kirkonkylä weather station[11]

## Historical places

[edit]

The Salpa Line anti-tank obstacles in Aholanvaara. Name | Place | Description | WGS 84

|
|
|

Evangelic-Lutheran church of Salla |  |  |
Paikanselkä memorial area | Paikanselkä | The Winter War front line 13 March 1940, when war ended. Located where the commander of the Swedish Volunteer Corps, lieutenant colonel Magnus Dyrssen was killed on 1 March 1940.[12] |
Salpa Line |  | Defense line on the eastern border of Finland |

## In popular culture

[edit]

Salla was referenced in the song 66°50’N, 28°40’E by Finnish death-doom band Swallow the Sun on their 2015 triple album Songs From the North I, II and III.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
2. ^ a b "Finland's preliminary population figure was 5,635,560 at the end of October 2024". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 19 November 2024. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
3. ^ "Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 26 April 2024. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
4. ^ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
5. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
6. ^ "Arctic Town Launches Genius Bid for 2032 Summer Olympics to Raise Awareness of Climate Change". Retrieved 4 February 2021.
7. ^ Finnish Railway News – Year 2006
8. ^ "Suomen virallisesta pakkasennätyksestä 17 vuotta - sallalaiset tuohtuivat "väärästä" ennätyksestä".
9. ^ "FMI normals 1991-2020" (in Finnish). fmi.fi. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
10. ^ "FMI open data". FMI. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
11. ^ "FMI open data". FMI. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
12. ^ "Sotamuistomerkit ja kohteet | Nähtävyydet & Käyntikohteet | Salla". loma.salla.fi. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Salla at Wikimedia Commons
* Municipality of Salla – Official website

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Places adjacent to Salla

| Savukoski |  Verkhnetulomsky [ru] |

|
|

|  |
Pelkosenniemi
Kemijärvi |

Salla

|  Alakurtti [ru]
|  |
Posio | Kuusamo (North Ostrobothnia) |  Kestengskoye [ru]

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