Oulu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oulu Uleåborg  (Swedish)
City
Oulun kaupunki Uleåborgs stad City of Oulu
From top, left to right: Rantakatu in downtown Oulu; Oulu City Hall; Lyseo Upper Secondary School and the Oulu Cathedral; Shops along Kirkkokatu; Radisson Blu Hotel along Ojakatu
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Capital of Northern Finland; Capital of Northern Scandinavia
Location of Oulu in Finland
Country	Finland
Region	North Ostrobothnia
Sub-region	Oulu
Charter	1605-04-08
Area  (2018-01-01)
• City	3,817.52 km2 (1,473.95 sq mi)
• Land	2,972.44 km2 (1,147.67 sq mi)
• Water	103.2 km2 (39.8 sq mi)
• Urban	187.1 km2 (72.2 sq mi)
Area rank	17th largest in Finland
Population  (2023-12-31)
• City	214,633
• Rank	5th largest in Finland
• Density	72.21/km2 (187.0/sq mi)
• Urban	208 939
• Urban density	915.8/km2 (2,372/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	oululainen (Finnish)
Population by native language
• Finnish	93.7% (official)
• Swedish	0.2%
• Sami	0.1%
• Others	6%
Population by age
• 0 to 14	17.4%
• 15 to 64	66%
• 65 or older	16.6%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)

Oulu is a lively city in Finland. It is the main city of the North Ostrobothnia region. Oulu is located on the northwestern coast of Finland, right where the River Oulu meets the sea.

With about 215,000 people, Oulu is the 5th largest city in Finland. It is also the biggest city in Northern Finland. Oulu is one of the three northernmost cities in the world with over 100,000 residents. The other two are in Russia.

Oulu is often called the "capital of Northern Finland." This is because of its large population and important role in the economy and culture. The city is known for trying out new technologies. For example, people in Oulu have experimented with NFC tags and smart screens. The University of Oulu is famous for its work in information technology.

In the past, Oulu was known for wood tar and salmon. Today, it is a big center for high-tech industries. This includes IT and health technology. Other important industries are wood processing, chemicals, and paper.

Oulu has been chosen to be the European Capital of Culture in 2026. This is a big honor for the city!

What's in a Name? The Story of Oulu's Name

The city of Oulu gets its name from the Oulujoki river. This river starts from Oulujärvi lake. There are a few ideas about where the name Oulu comes from.

One idea is that it comes from a Sami language word. This word might mean 'flood water'. The Sami people are native to parts of Finland and other Nordic countries. If the name came from a Sami language, it would have been borrowed into Finnish.

Another idea is that the name comes from a Finnish word. This word, oulu, also means "floodwater". It is similar to a Sami word meaning "melted snow." There are also ideas that the name could be linked to words meaning "river channel" or "river bed."

A Look Back: Oulu's History

Drawing of central Oulu from the 19th century

Oulu is located by the Gulf of Bothnia. It is at the mouth of the Oulujoki river. This spot has been an important trading place for a very long time.

After a peace treaty in 1323, both the Novgorod Republic and the Kingdom of Sweden wanted control of Oulu. In 1345, Sweden took control of the area up to the Kemi River. In 1375, Novgorod built a castle, but Sweden captured it two years later.

The 1400s saw many raids by Russians in the region. People were often killed or taken away. In 1531, Oulu was allowed to be a trading post. The Oulu Castle was built by the Swedes in 1590. In 1595, a treaty officially gave Sweden control over Oulu.

King Charles IX of Sweden founded the city on April 8, 1605. Oulu was given special city rights in 1610. In 1765, Oulu gained rights to trade outside of Sweden. From 1776 to 2009, Oulu was the capital of the Province of Oulu.

In 1822, a huge fire destroyed much of the city. Most buildings were made of wood. The famous architect Carl Ludvig Engel helped plan how to rebuild Oulu. His plan is still the basis for Oulu's city center today. The Oulu Cathedral was built based on his designs in 1832.

During the Crimean War, the British fleet attacked Oulu's harbor. They destroyed ships and burned tar houses. This caused a lot of international criticism. In 1918, the Battle of Oulu took place during the Finnish Civil War.

Exploring Oulu: Geography and Climate

Satellite image of the Oulu region.

Oulu is in northern Finland, quite far from other big cities. It is about 607 kilometers north of Helsinki, the capital. The northernmost and southernmost points of mainland Finland are about the same distance from Oulu.

Oulu's coast is on the Bothnian Bay. Sweden is about 180 kilometers directly west across the bay. Near Oulu, there is a beautiful bay called Kempeleenlahti. Part of this bay is a protected nature area. The island of Hailuoto is also close by, about 53 kilometers away in the Bothnian Bay.

City Areas and Mergers

The map of Oulu from 1886.

Oulu is divided into 106 city districts. Some of the biggest districts include Haukipudas, Oulunsalo, and Tuira.

Over the years, Oulu has grown by merging with nearby towns. For example, Ylikiiminki joined Oulu in 2009. Then, in 2013, Haukipudas, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo, and Yli-Ii also became part of Oulu.

Weather in Oulu

Oulu has a subarctic climate. This means it has cold, snowy winters and short, mild summers. It is the largest Finnish city entirely in this climate zone. The average temperature for the whole year is about 3.3 degrees Celsius.

It usually rains or snows about 105 days a year. Most of this happens in late summer and fall. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Oulu was 33.3 degrees Celsius in July 1957. The coldest was -41.5 degrees Celsius in February 1966.

Because Oulu is so far north, it doesn't get much sunlight in winter. In December, there's only about 15 minutes of sunshine each day. During the shortest day of the year, the sun is only above the horizon for about 3.5 hours.

However, in summer, it's the opposite! During the longest day, the sun is up for over 22 hours. This creates "white nights" in Oulu during the summer. The sun barely dips below the horizon.

People and Languages: Demographics

Oulu's Population

The city of Oulu has about 214,633 people. This makes it the 5th most populated city in Finland. The larger Oulu region has about 262,736 people. This region is the fourth largest in Finland.

About 4% of all people in Finland live in Oulu. Most people in Oulu are from Finland. About 6.1% of the population has a foreign background. This is a smaller percentage compared to bigger Finnish cities like Helsinki.

Languages Spoken in Oulu

Oulu is the second largest city in Finland where almost everyone speaks Finnish. There are also about 497 people who speak Swedish. Swedish is one of Finland's official languages.

Many people in Oulu also speak other languages. This is because English and Swedish are taught in schools. Over 100 different languages are spoken in Oulu. The most common foreign languages are Russian, Arabic, English, and Chinese.

Religious Groups

In 2023, the largest religious group in Oulu was the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. About 67.2% of the people belonged to this church. About 1.9% of the population belonged to other religious groups. A large part of the population, 30.9%, did not have a religious affiliation.

Oulu's Economy: How People Work

Stora Enso has an important paper manufacturing plant in Oulu.

Former Nokia premises in Peltola.

Technopolis Linnanmaa is home to nearly 200 corporations.

Oulu has a strong economy with many different jobs. In 2008, most people worked in services. Other important job areas included industry, commerce (shops), and construction.

Here are some of the biggest employers in Oulu in 2011:

• The City of Oulu itself employed about 9,709 people.
• The Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District had about 6,144 employees.
• The University of Oulu employed about 3,045 people.
• Nokia Networks and Nokia Group together employed about 4,100 people.
• Other large employers included Kesko Group, Cooperative Arina Group, and Stora Enso Group.

Culture and Fun in Oulu

Air Guitar World Championships 2012, an annual event held in Oulu since 1996

Oulu is known for its unique cultural events. The most famous is the Air Guitar World Championships. This fun event happens every August. The city is also home to the famous Screaming Men choir, Mieskuoro Huutajat.

Many artists, writers, and musicians live in Oulu. You can find many concerts, from rock to classical and jazz. There are also other cultural events throughout the year.

Some popular festivals include:

• The Oulu Music Video Festival in August.
• The Qstock rock festival in July.
• The Oulu Music Festival in winter.
• The The Irish Festival of Oulu in October.
• The International Children's Film Festival in November.

Oulu has several interesting museums:

• The Northern Ostrobothnia museum teaches about the region's history.
• The Oulu Museum of Art (OMA) shows different artworks.
• The Tietomaa science center is a great place to learn through hands-on exhibits.
• The Turkansaari open-air museum shows what life was like in the past.

You can also see famous statues like The Bobby at the Market Place. The rock band Blind Channel, who represented Finland in Eurovision 2021, is from Oulu.

Local Food

Oulu has some traditional dishes. These include rössypottu, a type of blood sausage and potato dish. You can also find delicious salmon soup and sweet cheese called juhannusjuusto.

Places to See in Oulu

Rotuaari pedestrian zone

Oulu Market Hall

Uusi Seurahuone restaurant on the Ahtisaari Square

• Tietomaa: A science center with over 150 interactive exhibits.
• The Rapids Center: An area where the Oulu river meets the sea. It has small islands, bridges, and fountains.
• The Market Square: A lively spot with the City Library, City Theatre, and the famous Toripolliisi statue.
• Hupisaaret Islands: A large park area in the river's estuary, perfect for walks.
• The Koitelinkoski rapids: Beautiful natural rapids outside the city center.
• Technopolis: A technology park where many companies are located.
• Turkansaari: A historical open-air museum that shows old Finnish life.
• Spa Hotel Eden and Nallikari beach: A popular recreation area with a spa and sandy beach.
• Old observatory in Linnansaari: Built in 1875 on the ruins of the Oulu Castle.
• Oulu Museum of Art: A place to enjoy different art exhibitions.

Churches in Oulu

Oulu Cathedral

Oulu has several beautiful churches, including:

• Oulu Cathedral
• Haukipudas Church
• Holy Family of Nazareth Church
• Holy Trinity Cathedral of Oulu
• Kiiminki Church
• Oulujoki Church
• Oulunsalo Church
• Tuira Church
• Ylikiiminki Church

Other Interesting Spots and Events

• Qstock music festival: A big annual rock festival.
• Oulu Music Video Festival: A festival celebrating music videos.
• Air Guitar World Championships: A fun and famous competition.
• Jalometalli Metal Music Festival: A festival for metal music fans.
• The Irish Festival of Oulu: A celebration of Irish culture.
• Madetoja Hall: Home to the Oulu Music Centre and the Oulu Symphony Orchestra.
• Oulu Hall: A large indoor sports facility.
• Terwa Marathon & Run: An annual running event in late May.
• The Terva-skiing event: A traditional ski marathon held in early March since 1889.

Getting Around: Transport in Oulu

Finnair is one of the main operators of the Oulu airport with regular flights to Helsinki.

Travel Between Cities

• Oulu Airport: This is the second busiest airport in Finland. It is about 15 kilometers southwest of the city center.
• Port of Oulu: One of the busiest harbors on the Bothnian Bay. It has different areas for oil, bulk goods, and other cargo. There is also a ferry service to Hailuoto Island.
• Trains: You can take a train from Oulu railway station to Helsinki Central railway station in about 5 hours and 34 minutes. Trains also go to other Finnish cities like Rovaniemi and Tampere.
• Roads: The most important road is Highway 4. It connects Oulu to Helsinki in the south and Utsjoki in the north.

Oulu Bus Station

Travel Within the City

Oulu is famous for its great network of paths for walking and bicycles. These paths are called "light traffic" routes in Finland. In 2022, the city had over 950 kilometers of these paths. There are also more than 300 underpasses and bridges just for walkers and cyclists.

Parked bicycles on Kirkkokatu Street in January

People use this network all year round, even in winter! About 20% of all trips in Oulu are made by bike. In winter, about 12% of trips are still by bicycle. The city does a great job of keeping bike paths clear of snow. They often plow bike paths before roads to encourage winter cycling.

In 2015, a large underground parking facility called Kivisydän (Stone Heart) opened. It is located 30 meters deep under the main shopping streets. It has space for many cars and elevators to take people up to the street.

Solar Power in Oulu

Even though Oulu is close to the Arctic Circle, it uses a lot of solar power. In 2015, the Kaleva Media printing plant in Oulu became the most powerful solar plant in Finland. It has over 1,600 solar panels on its roof.

While Oulu only gets a couple of hours of weak sunlight in December, the solar panels work almost all day in the summer. The cold climate actually helps the panels work better. They can get up to a 25% boost per hour because they don't overheat.

Because the sun is low in the sky, vertical solar panels on the sides of buildings are popular. These "solar walls" also capture light that reflects off the snow. Sometimes, snow is even left on rooftop solar panels because it can help reflect light.

The local energy company, Oulun Energia, is owned by the city. It gets energy from many sources, including wood pellets, waste, bioenergy, and hydropower.

Sports in Oulu

Kärpät wins the Finnish championship in 2005 after beating Jokerit.

Oulun Luistinseura beat Jyväskylän Seudun Palloseura in the 2014 Finland men's national bandy championship final at the Raksila Artificial Ice Rink Pakkalan kenttä.

Ice hockey is very popular in Oulu. The local team, Kärpät, has won the Finnish championship eight times. They have also been runners-up in the European Champions Cup twice.

In football, AC Oulu plays in the top Finnish league. Another club, OPS, won the Finnish championship twice in the past.

Oulu also has a well-known bandy club, OLS. They play in the top league and have won the Finnish championship 14 times. In 2001, Oulu was the main host city for the Bandy World Championship.

There are many other sports clubs in Oulu. These include teams for American football, basketball, Pesäpallo (Finnish baseball), and Rugby union.

Oulu hosts two big annual events:

• Oulun Tervahiihto: A ski marathon event held since 1889.
• Terwa Run & Marathon: A running event held since 1989.

Learning in Oulu: Education

University of Oulu main building.

Oulu is an important center for education. The University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences have their main campuses here.

The University of Oulu is home to the northernmost architecture school in the world. This school is known for its ideas about designing buildings that fit well with the local area. This is called "the Oulu school" of architecture.

The Oulu Vocational College has over 13,000 students. It offers many different study subjects. It is one of the few vocational schools that teaches game programming.

The Oulu International School is one of only nine schools in Finland that offers basic education in English. There is also a private Swedish-speaking school for students up to high school. This is the northernmost Swedish-speaking school in Finland.

Famous People from Oulu

Many notable people come from Oulu, including:

• Saara Aalto: A singer who was a finalist on X Factor UK.
• Blind Channel: A popular post-hardcore and nu metal band.
• Frans Michael Franzén: A well-known poet.
• Heidi Hautala: A politician.
• Matti Hautamäki: A famous ski jumper.
• Iivo Niskanen: An Olympic champion cross-country skier.
• Keke Rosberg: A Formula One world champion from 1982.
• Martti Ahtisaari: A former president of Finland and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Many ice hockey and football players also come from Oulu.

Oulu's Global Connections: Twin Cities

Oulu has many connections with cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They help promote friendship and understanding between different places.

Oulu is twinned with:

• Alta Municipality, Norway (since 1948)
• Arkhangelsk, Russia (since 1993)
• Astana, Kazakhstan (since 2013)
• Boden, Sweden (since 1948)
• Bursa, Turkey (since 1978)
• Halle, Germany (since 1968)
• Leverkusen, Germany (since 1968)
• Odesa, Ukraine (since 1957)
• Siófok, Hungary (since 1978)
• Hangzhou, China (since 2010)

Some cities that merged with Oulu also had twin city relationships. Oulu continues these connections:

• Matera, Italy (twinned with Oulunsalo since 2010)
• Szigetszentmiklós, Hungary (twinned with Haukipudas since 1992)
• Kronstadt, Russia (twinned with Haukipudas, Kiiminki, and Yli-Ii since 1991)

Partnership Cities

Oulu also has eight "Partnership & Twinning cities":

• Glasgow, UK
• Ilembula, Tanzania
• Karlsruhe, Germany
• Luleå, Sweden
• Matagalpa, Nicaragua
• Sendai, Japan (since 2005)
• Umeå, Sweden
• Vienne, France

Images for kids

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  From top, left to right: Rantakatu in downtown Oulu; Oulu City Hall; Lyseo Upper Secondary School and the Oulu Cathedral; Shops along Kirkkokatu; Radisson Blu Hotel along Ojakatu

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  Flag of Oulu

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  Coat of arms of Oulu

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  Location of Oulu in Finland

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  Coat of arms of North Ostrobothnia

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  Satellite image of the Oulu region.

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  The map of Oulu from 1886.

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  Stora Enso has an important paper manufacturing plant in Oulu.

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  Former Nokia premises in Peltola.

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  Technopolis Linnanmaa is home to nearly 200 corporations.

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  Air Guitar World Championships 2012, an annual event held in Oulu since 1996

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  Rotuaari pedestrian zone

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  Oulu Market Hall

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  Uusi Seurahuone restaurant on the Ahtisaari Square

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  Oulu Cathedral

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  Finnair is one of the main operators of the Oulu airport with regular flights to Helsinki.

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  Oulu Bus Station

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  Parked bicycles on Kirkkokatu Street in January

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  Kärpät wins the Finnish championship in 2005 after beating Jokerit.

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  Oulun Luistinseura beat Jyväskylän Seudun Palloseura in the 2014 Finland men's national bandy championship final at the Raksila Artificial Ice Rink Pakkalan kenttä.

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  University of Oulu main building.

See also

In Spanish: Oulu para niños