Taipalsaari

Taipalsaari [ tɑi̯pɑlsɑ ː ri ] is a municipality in eastern Finland with 4838 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012). Lies 14 kilometers northwest of the town of Lappeenranta in the landscape of South Karelia in the Saimaa lake region.

The Saimaa lake plays an important role for Taipalsaari. Over half of the municipal area consists of water, the lakes in the area of Taipalsaari have a total of about 700 islands and the total length of its shores is 1008 km. In the past, community residents moving mostly away by boat. On the boat ride on Lake Saimaa also reminds the steamship in the arms of the municipality. Today Taipalsaari is connected by a scenic bridge to Lappeenranta. In addition, the fishery has traditionally been an important source of income in Taipalsaari, therefore fish soup is considered a local specialty. In the area of ​​community also lives a population of the rare Saimaa ringed seals. Especially in the summer Taipalsaari is a popular resort with its 3200 cabins.

Half of the employed residents of the community work in Lappeenranta. Taipalsaari benefited from its proximity to the city: In the town above average live many families with children and the population is increasing by an average of 40 people per year.

Taipalsaari is twinned with Kungsbacka in Sweden, Norway and Nannestad Aalestrup in Denmark.

The biathlete Simo Halonen ( * 1947 ) was born in Taipalsaari.

Towns

To the municipality includes the villages Ahokkala, Ampujala, Haikkaanlahti, Haikola, Halila, Heikkola, Herttuala, Illukansaari, Jauhiala, Kannus, Karhula Karhunpää, Kattelussaari, Kilkinsaari, Kilpiänsaari, Kirkonkylä, Kirvesniemi, Kuhala, Kuikkala, cures Lahti, Kurenniemi, Kurhila, Kutila, Kylänniemi, Laukniemi, Lehtola, Levänen, Liukkola, Merenlahti, Muukkola, Märkälä, Nieminen, Olkkola, Paakkola, pair Mala, Pakkala, Peltoinen, Pönniälä, Rehula, Reinikkala, Saikkola, Solkeinkylä, Telkkälä, Vainikkala, Viskarila and Vitsainen.