Rautjärvi

Rautjärvi [ rɑu̯tjærvi ] is a municipality in southeastern Finland. It is situated in the landscape of South Karelia on the border with Russia. About half of the 3782 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) lives in the community center Simpele. The second major settlement is Rautajärven Asemaseutu with 800 inhabitants. In addition to the municipality includes the villages Innasennurkka, Kaljusenkylä, Laikko, Miettilä, Niskapietilä and Änkilä. Rautjärvi is one of the most industrialized towns in Finland. The largest employer in the community is a paper mill M- real Corporation Simpele.

Rautjärvi is an independent municipality since 1666. As Finland had to give up after the Second World War its eastern territories to the Soviet Union, was the regrown limit by Rautjärvi. 40 % of the municipal territory remained on the Soviet side. The church today Rautjärvi created in 1973 by the merger of the former municipalities Rautjärvi and Simpele.

The sniper Simo Häyhä (1905-2002) was born in Rautjärvi.