Valtimo

Valtimo [ vɑltimɔ ] is a municipality in eastern Finland with 2421 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012). It is the northernmost municipality in the countryside of northern Karelia on the border with the Northern Savo and Kainuu landscapes.

The community center of Valtimo is located on State Road 6 between the lakes and Valtimojärvi Haapajärvi. The landscape of Valtimo is surrounded by hills ( vaara ), embossed ridge ( harju ) and forests. The hills are up to 335 meters high.

When, after the Second World War East Karelia Finland was forced to cede to the Soviet Union, were over 1,000 Orthodox, located karelischsprachige refugees from the border area in ostkarelischen Valtimo, namely closed in the village Rasimäki. There, the Karelian culture has yet been able to keep. Valtimo has of all Finnish municipalities by Ilomantsi the second largest Orthodox population. According to a study from 2005 still speak in Valtimo around 100 people Karelian.

To the municipality of Valtimo except the town center include the settlements Elomäki, Haapakylä, Halmejärven metsänhoitopiiri, straws Järvi, Hirsi Niemi, Karhunpää, Koiravaara, Koppelojärvi, Maanselkä, Pajukoski, Rasimäki, Sivakkajoki, Sivakkavaara and Ylä- Valtimo.