Geography and location

North Karelia is remote and the easternmost region of the continental European Union, sharing a 296 km joint border with the Russian Federation. The region has always been characterised by its clean environment and extensive waterways. The history and location between East and West are still visible in the region’s culture, e.g. the presence of the Orthodox religion and eastern-influenced culture, food and music.

The total surface area of North Karelia is 21.585 square kilometres (⅔ of the size of Belgium), of which 70 % is forests and 17 % lakes. The region is extremely sparsely populated – only 8 inhabitants per square kilometre. A declining and rapidly-aging population is among the key challenges for the region. The population is quite concentrated in area surrounding the city of Joensuu, which together accounts for over 65 % of all inhabitants.

The region is part of the NUTS 2 region of Eastern Finland. The distance to the capital of Finland, Helsinki, is 437 km by road.