Paltamo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paltamo
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Municipality
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| Paltamon kunta Paltamo kommun |
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Paltamo Church
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Location of Paltamo in Finland
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| Country |  Finland |
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| Region | Kainuu | |
| Sub-region | Kajaani | |
| Area
(2018-01-01)
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| • Total | 1,139.12 km2 (439.82 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 918.79 km2 (354.75 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 220.23 km2 (85.03 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 85th largest in Finland | |
| Population
(2023-12-31)
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| • Total | 3,037 | |
| • Rank | 211th largest in Finland | |
| • Density | 3.31/km2 (8.6/sq mi) | |
| Population by native language | ||
| • Finnish | 98.2% (official) | |
| • Swedish | 0.1% | |
| • Others | 1.7% | |
| Population by age | ||
| • 0 to 14 | 12.3% | |
| • 15 to 64 | 53.7% | |
| • 65 or older | 34% | |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) | |
Paltamo is a small town, also called a municipality, in Finland. It is located in the Kainuu region. Imagine a place with beautiful nature and a rich history!
Paltamo is home to about 3,037 people (as of 31 December 2023). It covers an area of 1,139.12 square kilometres (439.82 sq mi), with 220.23 km2 (85.03 sq mi) of that being water. This means there are many lakes and rivers!
The population density is about 3.31 inhabitants per square kilometre (8.6/sq mi). This tells us how many people live in each square kilometer. The main areas where people live are Kontiomäki and Paltamo itself. Kontiomäki has around 600 residents.
Paltamo is about 37 kilometres (23 mi) from Kajaani and 145 kilometres (90 mi) from Oulu. The official language spoken here is Finnish.
Contents
Exploring Paltamo's History
Paltamo has a very long history, dating back about 8,500 years! This means people have lived here for a very, very long time. One interesting discovery from the past is a weapon shaped like a bear's head.
Early Settlements and Growth
In 1552, a king named Gustav Vasa gave an order. He wanted people to move to and live in the areas around Lake Oulu. Because of this order, 140 families moved to this region. By 1555, records show that 133 families were living in Paltamo.
The Historic Church of Paltamo
The beautiful church in Paltamo was built in 1726 by a person named Johan Simonpoika Knubb. This church was actually the fourth one built on that same spot! It shows how important the church was to the community over the centuries.
A Famous Finnish Writer
Paltamo is also known as the birthplace of a very important person in Finnish literature. His name was Eino Leino, and he was born in Hövelö, Paltamo, in 1878. He is one of Finland's most famous poets and writers.
Paltamo Today
Today, Paltamo is a quiet municipality. Like some other smaller towns in Finland, its population is slowly decreasing. However, it remains a place with deep roots and a rich heritage.
Understanding Paltamo's Coat of Arms
Every town has a special symbol called a coat of arms. It tells a story about the place. The word paltamo means a "tar boat" in the local Kainuu dialect.
The Symbolism of the Tar Boats
Because of this meaning, the coat of arms for Paltamo features three black tar boats. These boats are shown on a golden background. Tar boats were very important in the past for transporting tar, which was a valuable product made from wood. This symbol reminds everyone of Paltamo's history and its connection to the tar trade.
See also
In Spanish: Paltamo para niños
