Oulu

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Oulu (Swedish: Uleåborg) is a city and municipality in Finland, capital of the Northern Ostrobothnia region, on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. Oulu has a population of around 210,000 inhabitants, which makes it the fifth largest city in Finland and the largest and therefore most important in the north of the country. It has, for example, a technology park that houses the University of Oulu. The entire province of Oulu constituted, from the geographical point of view, a transition zone between the Finnish north and south, which is to say that it represents the natural demarcation between Lapland and the southern Lake District. In 2013 the municipalities of Kiiminki, Oulunsalo, Haukipudas and Yli-Ii joined Oulu and formed a new city.

Etymology

The city gets its name from the Oulujoki River, which originates from Lake Oulujärvi. There have been a large number of theories for the origin of the name of Oulu. One possible source for the name Oulu is a word in the Sami language meaning 'flood water', but there are other suggestions. At a minimum, the structure of the word requires that if it was originally given by speakers of a Uralic language, the name must be a derivative. It most likely also predates the settlement of Finland and is therefore a loanword from one of the now extinct Saami languages spoken in the area.

The most likely theory is that the name derives from the Finnish dialect word oulu, meaning "flood water", which is related to, for example, the word åulo in Southern Sami, meaning "melting snow", while åulot means "thaw" (of ultimate origin unknown). Two other word families have also been speculated to be related. The former is seen in the North Savonian dialect word uula and its Saami counterpart oalli, both meaning "river channel". The second is the Uralic root reconstructed as *uwa, meaning "river bed" (reflected as vuo in modern Finnish, also in derivatives such as vuolas "heavy-flowing"). For any of these stems, it would have to be assumed that some variety of Saami added further derivative suffixes.

History

Oulu drawing of the S.XIX

Oulu was founded on April 8, 1605 by King Charles IX of Sweden in front of the castle built on the island of Linnansaari.

Then it would spread on the mainland, after favorable peace agreements with the Russians, although it will be threatened by a possible attack from the region via the main east-west shipping channel, the Oulu River (the outskirts of they will populate later). Oulu is located on the side of the Gulf of Bothnia, at the mouth of the Oulu River, an old trading area. One of the origins of the name Oulu is a word in the Sami language that means grown, but there are other suggestions. Oulu has been the capital of the Oulu province since 1776.

Economy

Although renowned for its salmon, Oulu has developed into a major center of competence in the field of high technology, particularly information technology and health technology. Other important industries are those related to the treatment of wood, the paper and steel industry. The University of Oulu is located 6 km north of the city center. Oulu Airport, located in the Oulunsalo neighborhood, is the most important in northern Finland and one of the most important in Finland after Helsinki, if it were not for the fact that Tampere has been opened to the outside world by Ryanair.

City Hall

The Oulu municipal council has a total of 67 seats currently distributed as follows: (See Political parties in Finland.)

Municipal council (2012-2016)
Party	Scalls
Keskusta (KESK)	19
Kokoomus (KOK)	13
Vasemmistoliitto (VAS)	10
SDP	9
Perussuomalaiset (PS)	8
Vihreä liitto (VIHR)	7
Kristillisdemokraatit (KD)	1

Culture

Oulu Cathedral.

The best-known cultural export acts from the city of Oulu are the Air Guitar World Championships, Mieskuoro Huutajat (also known as the screaming man), and the metal band Sentenced.

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

The city of Oulu celebrated its 400th founding anniversary in the year (2005).

Places of interest

"Tietomaa" (Center of Science)
Ainola Park "(Ainolan puisto)" (The old botanical garden of the university)
"Rotuaari" pedestrian circuit
Salt stores
"Hupisaaret"
Monument to F. M. Franzen
North Ostrobotnia Museum
Museo de la serrería "Pateniemi"
Car museum
Botanical Garden of the University of Oulu
Museum of Fine Arts of Oulu
Arctic Room
Oulu Music Video Festival
World Air Guitar Championship
Teatro de la ciudad de Oulu
Musical center of Oulu
University of Oulu
Hotel Eden and spa
Oulu Auditorium
Nallikari leisure centre
Terva Ski Encounter
Oulu Horse Fair
American Car Show
Oulu Castle

Education

The University of Oulu and the Oulu University of Applied Sciences have their main campuses located in Oulu.

Oulu is home to the world's northernmost school of architecture. The school is best known for its strong regionalist ideas for the development of architecture. This movement is called "the Oulu school" ("Oulun koulu") of architecture.

Oulu Vocational Training has more than 13,000 students. It houses different study subjects in different units spread across Oulu and neighboring municipalities. Oulu Vocational College School of Business Studies is one of the few vocational schools to have game programming in the curriculum.

Oulu International College is one of nine schools in Finland that offer basic education in English.

Sports

Oulun Kärpät and Helsingin IFK Ice Hockey Party.

Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Oulu. The local club Kärpät has won the SM-liiga champion title six times (1981, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2014). They have also been the runner-up in the IIHF European Champions Cup on two occasions, in 2005 and 2006.

In football AC Oulu is playing in Ykkönen, the second tier of the Finnish league system. To date only OPS has won the Finnish soccer championship, winning the Mestaruussarja twice in 1979 and 1980. Other notable soccer clubs include OLS, OTP, and Tervarit.

Oulu has two well-known bandy clubs. The OLS that has been Finnish champion 14 times, and the OPS with its 7 championships. Currently only the OLS is playing in the Bandyliiga, the highest level in Finnish bandy. In 2001 the city was the main venue for the World Men's Bandy Championship.

Oulu is also home to several other sports clubs such as Oulu Northern Lights (American football), Oulun Nmky (basketball), Oulun Lippo (pesäpallo), Oulun Pyrintö (athletics), OYUS (rugby union), Oulu Irish Elks (Gaelic football) and Etta (volleyball).

Terwa Marathon & Run is an annual run event at the end of May (since 1989).

Transportation

Oulu Airport is the second largest airport in Finland by passenger volume. It is located 15 kilometers southwest of the city center.

The port of Oulu is one of the busiest ports in the Gulf of Bothnia. It includes four separate port areas: Vihreäsaari oil and bulk docks, Nuottasaari docks and Oritkari docks.

The shortest journey time from Oulu Train Station to Helsinki Central Train Station is 5 h 44 min, operated by VR. Other destinations include Kolari, Rovaniemi, Seinäjoki and Tampere.

The main road passing through Oulu is Highway 4 (E8 / E75) which runs from Helsinki to Utsjoki via Lahti, Jyväskylä, Oulu, Kemi and Rovaniemi. Other highways running to and from Oulu are Highway 20 to Kuusamo and Highway 22 to Kajaani.

Oulu is notable for its transport network dedicated to non-vehicular traffic including pedestrians and bicycles (called 'light' traffic in Finland). As of 2010, the city contained more than 600 kilometers of roads and more than 100 overpasses and bridges dedicated exclusively to light traffic. The network is used throughout the year. The ratio of light traffic routes to residents is the highest in Finland and in the cycling mode of participation it is 20 percent.