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Oulu (literally: "Flood") is a city
List of cities and towns in Finland

This is a 'list of towns in Finland'. In the year 1977 the juridical difference between cities, towns and Municipalities of Finland were removed. Today only municipalities are recognized, some of which are commonly referred to as towns ....
 and municipality
Municipalities of Finland

||-||}The municipalities represent the local level of administration in Finland and act as the fundamental administrative units of the country....
 of inhabitants in the province
Provinces of Finland

The state of Finland consists of 6 provinces . The provincial authority is part of the central government's executive branch, not directly elected....
 of Oulu and the region of Northern Ostrobothnia
Northern Ostrobothnia

Northern Ostrobothnia is a Regions of Finland of Finland....
, in Finland
Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland , is a Nordic countries situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. It borders Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland....
. It is the largest and most important city in Northern Finland and the sixth largest city in the country. Its population growth rate is almost comparable with that of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Oulu has a namesake
Namesake

Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that is called after, or named out of regard to, another....
 in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, Oulu, Wisconsin
Oulu, Wisconsin

Oulu is a town in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 540 at the 2000 census.It is named after Oulu, the sixth most populous city in Finland....
, which is a village with a population of about 540.

was founded on July 20, 1605 by King Charles IX
Charles IX of Sweden

Charles IX , was King of Sweden from 1604 until his death. He was the youngest son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife, Margaret Leijonhufvud, brother of Eric XIV of Sweden and John III of Sweden, and uncle of Sigismund III Vasa king of both Sweden and Poland....
 of Sweden
Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the ?resund Bridge in the south....
 opposite to the castle built on the island of Linnansaari.






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Encyclopedia


Oulu (literally: "Flood") is a city
List of cities and towns in Finland

This is a 'list of towns in Finland'. In the year 1977 the juridical difference between cities, towns and Municipalities of Finland were removed. Today only municipalities are recognized, some of which are commonly referred to as towns ....
 and municipality
Municipalities of Finland

||-||}The municipalities represent the local level of administration in Finland and act as the fundamental administrative units of the country....
 of inhabitants in the province
Provinces of Finland

The state of Finland consists of 6 provinces . The provincial authority is part of the central government's executive branch, not directly elected....
 of Oulu and the region of Northern Ostrobothnia
Northern Ostrobothnia

Northern Ostrobothnia is a Regions of Finland of Finland....
, in Finland
Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland , is a Nordic countries situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. It borders Sweden on the west, Russia on the east, and Norway on the north, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland....
. It is the largest and most important city in Northern Finland and the sixth largest city in the country. Its population growth rate is almost comparable with that of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Oulu has a namesake
Namesake

Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that is called after, or named out of regard to, another....
 in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, Oulu, Wisconsin
Oulu, Wisconsin

Oulu is a town in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 540 at the 2000 census.It is named after Oulu, the sixth most populous city in Finland....
, which is a village with a population of about 540.

History

Oulu was founded on July 20, 1605 by King Charles IX
Charles IX of Sweden

Charles IX , was King of Sweden from 1604 until his death. He was the youngest son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife, Margaret Leijonhufvud, brother of Eric XIV of Sweden and John III of Sweden, and uncle of Sigismund III Vasa king of both Sweden and Poland....
 of Sweden
Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the ?resund Bridge in the south....
 opposite to the castle built on the island of Linnansaari. This took place after favourable peace settlements with the Russians, which removed the threat of attack via the main east-west waterway, the river Oulu. The surrounding areas were populated much earlier. Oulu is situated by the Gulf of Bothnia
Gulf of Bothnia

The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It is situated between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. In the south of the gulf lie the ?land, between the Sea of ?land and the Archipelago Sea....
, at the mouth of river Oulujoki
Oulujoki

Oulujoki is a river in Oulu province, Finland.Its origin is Ouluj?rvi and, its watershed area covers a significant part of Kainuu region.It flows into the Baltic Sea at Oulu. Port of Oulu is located at the mouth of the river....
, which is an ancient trading site. One source for the name Oulu is a word in the Sami language
Sami languages

Sami or Saami is a general name for a group of Uralic languages spoken by the Sami people in parts of northern Finland, Norway, Sweden and extreme northwestern Russia, in Northern Europe....
 meaning 'flood water', but there are other suggestions. Oulu has been the capital of the Oulu Province
Oulu Province

The Province of Oulu is a Provinces of Finland of Finland. It borders the provinces of Lapland, Finland, Western Finland and Eastern Finland. It also borders the Gulf of Bothnia and Russia....
 since 1776.

In 1822, a major fire destroyed much of the city. The architect Carl Ludvig Engel
Carl Ludvig Engel

Carl Ludvig Engel, or Johann Karl Ludwig Engel was a Germany architect known for his neoclassical style. He had a great impact on the architecture of Finland in the first part of the 19th century....
, chiefly known for the neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture

Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the Neoclassicism that began in the mid-18th century, both as a reaction against the Rococo style of anti-tectonic naturalistic ornament, and an outgrowth of some classicizing features of Baroque architecture....
 (empire style) buildings around Helsinki Senate Square
Helsinki Senate Square

The Senate Square presents Carl Ludvig Engel's architecture as a unique allegory of political, religious, scientific and commercial powers in the centre of Helsinki, Finland....
, was enlisted to provide the plan for the rebuilding of the city. With minor changes, this plan remains the basis for the layout of Oulu's town center. The Oulu Cathedral
Oulu Cathedral

The Oulu Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland cathedral and the seat of the Diocese of Oulu, located in the centre of Oulu, Finland....
 was built in 1832 to his designs, with the spire being finished in 1844.

From being a town known for wood tar
Tar

Tar is modified resin produced from the wood and roots of pine by destructive distillation under pyrolysis. It is a viscosity black liquid. Production and trade in tar was a major contributor in the economies of Northern Europe and Colonial America....
 and salmon
Salmon

Salmon is the common name for several species of fish of the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the family are called trout,the difference is often attributed to the migratory life of the salmon as compared to the residential behaviour of trout, this holds true for the Atlantic salmon....
 in the past, Oulu has evolved into a major centre of competence in the field of high technology, particularly IT
Information technology

Information technology , as defined by the Information Technology Association of America , is "the study, design, development, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to data conv...
 and wellness
Wellness

Wellness may mean:*Wellness -Wellness is generally used to mean a healthy balance of the mind-body and spirit that results in an overall feeling of well-being....
 technology. Other prominent industries include wood refining as well as paper and steel industry. The University of Oulu
University of Oulu

The University of Oulu is the third largest university in Finland.It was founded on 8th of July 1958. The university has around 17,000 students and 3,000 staff....
 is located six kilometres north of the city center. The Oulu Airport
Oulu Airport

Oulu Airport is located in the municipality of Oulunsalo, Finland, about south-west of Oulu city centre. The airport is the second busiest in Finland after Helsinki-Vantaa airport, as measured by the number of passengers and the amount of freight transported....
, located in neighbouring municipality of Oulunsalo
Oulunsalo

Oulunsalo is a municipality in the province of Oulu , in Finland. The municipality is located in Northern Finland just south-west of the city of Oulu....
, is the second busiest in Finland.

The municipality of Ylikiiminki
Ylikiiminki

Ylikiiminki is a List of former municipalities of Finland of Finland. It was consolidated with the city of Oulu on 1 January, 2009.It was located in the provinces of Finland of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia regions of Finland....
 was consolidated with the city of Oulu on January 1, 2009.

Cultural life


The cultural life in Oulu is rich and varied. The best known cultural exports of the city of Oulu are Air Guitar World Championships
Air guitar

Playing air guitar is a form of dance and movement in which the performer imagination to play rock or heavy metal music-style electric guitar guitar solo....
, Mieskuoro Huutajat
Mieskuoro Huutajat

Mieskuoro Huutajat is an internationally famous shouting choir from Oulu, Finland. They were established in 1987 and originally comprised 20 shouting men, since expanded to 30....
 (also known as Screaming Men), and the now defunct metal band Sentenced. Oulu is home to the most northerly architecture school in the world. The school is best known for its strong regionalistic ideas to develop architecture. This movement is named "Oulun koulu" style.

There are many artists, writers and musicians resident in the city. A variety of concerts, both rock, classical music, and jazz, as well as other cultural events take place each year; for example, Oulu Music Video Festival
Oulu Music Video Festival

Founded in 1994, Oulu Music Video Festival is an annual festival of music video, cinema, live music, and air guitar The Annual Air Guitar World Championship contest, held in Oulu, Finland....
 – the host of the Air Guitar World Championships and Musixine Music Film Competition – in August, annual rock festival Qstock in July, the Oulu Music Festival in winter, the Oulunsalo Music Festival in summer, and the International Children's Film Festival in November. Many people who have made a significant contribution to the cultural and political life of Finland have been born or have lived in Oulu, for example, the composer Leevi Madetoja
Leevi Madetoja

Leevi Antti Madetoja was a Finland composer.Born in Oulu, Finland, he was the son of Antti Madetoja and Anna Hyttinen. His father emigrated to the United States to earn money for the family, but died of tuberculosis by the Mississippi river never having seen his son....
, and the writer Paavo Rintala. Three former Presidents of the country, Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg
Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg

Kaarlo Juho St?hlberg was a prominent jurist and academic, who played a central role in the drafting of the Constitution of Finland in 1919. He was the first President of Finland and a nationalist Liberalism....
, Kyösti Kallio
Kyösti Kallio

Ky?sti Kallio [IPA: ky?sti kallio] was the fourth President of Finland . He was a prominent leader of the Centre Party of Finland, and had previously been Prime Minister of Finland four times and Speaker of the Parliament of Finland six times ....
 and Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Ahtisaari

Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari is a former President of Finland , 2008 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work....
 also went to school there, attending the Oulu Lyceum
Oulun Lyseon Lukio

Oulun Lyseon Lukio is a Finnish school in the city of Oulu in northern Finland. There are about 50 teachers and about 500 students in the high school and 150 in the IB-study programme ....
.

Sights

  • , a science center with over 150 exhibits
  • Ainola Park, formerly a university botanical garden before the university was moved to Linnanmaa
  • The Rapids Center, the area in the estuary of the Oulu river consisting of small islands connected with bridges, fountains in the middle of the river, and including a housing area of building blocks planned by Alvar Aalto
    Alvar Aalto

    Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finland architect and designer, sometimes called the "Father of Modernism" in the Scandinavian countries. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware....
  • Rotuaari pedestrian street
  • The Market Square with the City Library, the City Theatre and old salt and tar storehouses
  • Mannerheim Park
    Mannerheim Park

    The Mannerheim Park is a small urban park in Oulu, Finland. With a fountain made from rough granite blocks and plenty of benches, the park is a favorite hangout for many....
  • The Oulu Cathedral
    Oulu Cathedral

    The Oulu Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland cathedral and the seat of the Diocese of Oulu, located in the centre of Oulu, Finland....
  • Hupisaaret, a large park area located in the estuary of the Oulu river
  • The F. M. Franzen memorial
  • The Northern Ostrobothnia museum
    Northern Ostrobothnia museum

    The Northern Ostrobothnia museum is a museum of cultural history. This provincial museum focuses on the city of Oulu and its the surrounding province Northern Ostrobothnia....
  • The Pateniemi Sawmill Museum
  • The Vehicle Museum
  • The University of Oulu Botanical Garden (situated in Linnanmaa)
  • The Oulu Art Museum
  • The Arctic Gallery
  • Technopolis, the technology village
  • Turkansaari () (historical outdoor museum)


Other points of interest

Oulu Railway Station Area in Winter
Mannerheim Park Oulu 2006 07 23
*Oulu Music Video Festival
Oulu Music Video Festival

Founded in 1994, Oulu Music Video Festival is an annual festival of music video, cinema, live music, and air guitar The Annual Air Guitar World Championship contest, held in Oulu, Finland....
  • Air Guitar World Championships
  • Qstock Rock Festival ()
  • Jalometalli Metal Music Festival
    Jalometalli Metal Music Festival

    Jalometalli Metal Music Festival is a heavy metal music music festival held annually in Finland since 2002....
  • Jalometalli Winterfest
    Jalometalli Winterfest

    Jalometalli Winterfest is a heavy metal music music festival held annually in Finland. It was created in 2005 as an offshoot of Jalometalli Metal Music Festival....
  • Oulu City Theatre ()
  • Madetoja Hall, housing the Oulu Music Centre () the residence of the Oulu Symphony Orchestra
  • Oulu Children's Theatre Festival ()
  • The University of Oulu
    University of Oulu

    The University of Oulu is the third largest university in Finland.It was founded on 8th of July 1958. The university has around 17,000 students and 3,000 staff....
  • Oulu Hall (a large indoor sports facility consisting of a low dome, which looks somewhat like a landed flying saucer
    Flying saucer

    Flying saucer is the name given to a type of unidentified flying object with a disc- or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either alone or in tight formations with other similar craft, and exhibiting...
    )
  • Nallikari Recreational Centre (with sandy beach and camping grounds)
  • Eden Hotel & Spa (in Nallikari)
  • event in late May (since 1989)
  • The Terva-skiing event in early March (since 1889)
  • The Oulu Horse Show
  • The American Car Show
  • The Winter Swimming World Championship
  • Oulu University of Applied Sciences (formerly Oulu Polytechnic)


Transportation


Air

Oulu is served by Oulu Airport
Oulu Airport

Oulu Airport is located in the municipality of Oulunsalo, Finland, about south-west of Oulu city centre. The airport is the second busiest in Finland after Helsinki-Vantaa airport, as measured by the number of passengers and the amount of freight transported....
, the second biggest airport in Finland by passenger volume. There are non-stop scheduled flights to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Vantaa, Finland, is the main airport of the Helsinki metropolitan region and the whole of Finland. It is located about from the center of Vantaa, Tikkurila, and from the Helsinki city centre....
 (around 18 daily flights with Finnair
Finnair

Finnair Plc is Finland's largest airline and the flag carrier, with its headquarters in Vantaa, Finland, and its main hub at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport....
 and Blue1
Blue1

Blue1 Osakeyhti? is an airline based in Helsinki, Finland. It is a regional airline feeding into the Scandinavian Airlines System network via Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen from five cities in Finland....
) and Rovaniemi Airport
Rovaniemi Airport

Rovaniemi Airport is the fourth biggest airport in Finland by annual number of passengers, located about 10 kilometres north from the city of Rovaniemi in the Finland province of Lapland Province....
 (1 daily with Finnair) as well as charter flights to Southern Europe
Southern Europe

The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean 'all countries in the south of Europe'. However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional Policy, Linguistics and Culture context to the definition in addition to the typical Geography, Phytogeography or Clime approach....
, Canary Isles and Phuket in Thailand
Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Laos and Myanmar, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Myanmar....
.

In October of 2007, Air Baltic begun flying to Oulu Airport, offering a direct connection to its main hub Riga International Airport
Riga International Airport

Riga International Airport was built in 1973 as an alternative to Spilve, which had become outdated. It is 13km southwest of Riga, the capital of Latvia....
 in Latvia, and connecting flights to airports in most European countries.

Oulu Airport is located in the neighbouring county of Oulunsalo, from the city centre. It can be reached by bus number 19 from the centre of the city and Technopolis.

Sea

Port of Oulu
Port of Oulu

Port of Oulu is a complex of four separate harbours located at the mouth of Oulujoki river in Oulu, Finland. Port of Oulu is a corporation owned by the City of Oulu....
 is one of the busiest harbours within the Bothnian Bay
Bothnian Bay

The Bothnian Bay or Bay of Bothnia is the most northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia, the northern part of the Baltic Sea. Its northernmost point is situated in T?re....
. Port of Oulu includes four separate harbour areas: Vihreäsaari oil and bulk docks, Nuottasaari docks, Oritkari docks and the Toppila docks.

Rail

The shortest travel time from Oulu Railway Station
Oulu railway station

The Oulu Railway Station is located in the centre of Oulu, Finland, in the city district of Vaara. All trains are operated by VR Group. Nearby is the bus station for long-distance buses....
 to Helsinki Central Railway Station
Helsinki Central railway station

Helsinki Central railway station is a widely recognised landmark in central Helsinki, Finland, and the focal point of public transport in the Greater Helsinki area....
 is 5 h 44 mins, operated by VR
VR Group

VR or VR Group is a state-owned railway company in Finland, and formerly known as Suomen Valtion Rautatiet ' until 1922 and Valtionrautatiet / Statsj?rnv?garna ' until 1995....
. There are also night trains with beds taking 8–11 hours; the newest night train cars are double deckers and have showers and toilets in the cabins. Other destinations include, for instance, Kolari
Kolari

Kolari is a municipalities of Finland of Finland at the Sweden border, which follows the Torne River, the longest free-flowing river in Europe....
, Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is a List of cities and towns in Finland and Municipalities of Finland of Finland. It is the administrative Capital and the centre of commerce of Finland's northernmost Province, Lapland, Finland....
, Seinäjoki
Seinäjoki

Sein?joki is a list of towns in Finland located in Southern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Sein?joki originated around the ?stermyra bruk iron and gunpowder factories founded in 1798....
 and Tampere
Tampere

Tampere is a city in southern Finland located between two lakes, N?sij?rvi and Pyh?j?rvi . Since the two lakes differ in level by , the rapids linking them, Tammerkoski, have been an important power source throughout history, most recently for generating electricity....
.

Road

The most important road in Oulu is highway 4
Finnish national road 4

Finnish national road 4 is a Highways in Finland in Finland. It is the main route from Helsinki to Northern Finland and a major road link in the country....
 (E8
European route E8

The European route E 8 is a International E-road network that goes from Troms?, Norway to Turku, Finland. The length of the route is ....
/E75
European route E75

The E 75 is part of the International E-road network, which is a series of main roads in Europe.The E 75 starts from Vard?, Norway in the Barents Sea and runs south through Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to Sitia, Greece on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea....
) that runs from Helsinki to Utsjoki
Utsjoki

Utsjoki is a municipalities of Finland in Finland. It is located in Lapland, Finland and borders Norway as well as the municipality of Inari, Finland....
 via Lahti
Lahti

Lahti is a List of cities and towns in Finland and Municipalities of Finland in Finland.It is the capital of the P?ij?nne Tavastia located in the province of Southern Finland....
, Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä

Jyv?skyl? is a List of cities and towns in Finland and Municipalities of Finland located in Central Finland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, near the lakes P?ij?nne and Lake Keitele....
, Oulu, Kemi
Kemi

Kemi is a cities of Finland and municipalities of Finland of Finland. It is located very near of the city of Tornio. It was founded in 1869 by royal decree, because of its proximity to a deep water harbour....
 and Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is a List of cities and towns in Finland and Municipalities of Finland of Finland. It is the administrative Capital and the centre of commerce of Finland's northernmost Province, Lapland, Finland....
. Other highways running to and from Oulu are highway 20 to Kuusamo
Kuusamo

Kuusamo is a List of cities and towns in Finland and municipalities of Finland of Finland.It is located in the provinces of Finland of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia regions of Finland....
 and highway 22 to Kajaani
Kajaani

Kajaani is a cities of Finland and Municipalities of Finland in Finland.It is located in the provinces of Finland of Oulu and is the capital of the Kainuu regions of Finland....
.

Distances to other Finnish cities:

Employment

As of December 31, 2005, the active working population was employed as follows:

In 2008, the most important employers were:

Sports

The Oulu ice hockey team Kärpät
Kärpät

K?rp?t is an ice hockey team in the SM-liiga that plays in Oulu, Finland. Their logo features a stoat ; "k?rp?t" is Finnish language for stoats ....
 have won the Finnish Elite League (SM-Liiga
SM-liiga

The SM-liiga is the top Professional sports ice hockey List of professional sports leagues in Finland, and generally regarded as one of the top leagues in Europe....
) Championship title five times (1981, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008). They have also been the runner-up in the European Champions Cup twice, in 2005 and 2006.

event in late May (since 1989)

Town twinning


Sister cities

Alta
Alta, Norway

is a List of cities in Norway and Municipalities of Norway in Finnmark Counties of Norway, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Alta....
, Norway
Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a constitutional monarchy in Northern Europe that occupies the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula....
 Arkhangelsk
Arkhangelsk

Arkhangelsk , formerly called Archangel in English language, is a types of inhabited localities in Russia and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia....
, Russia
Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
 Boden
Boden Municipality

Boden Municipality is a municipalities of Sweden in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Boden, Sweden.In 1919 the evolving garrison town of Boden was detached from ?verlule? and instituted as a stad municipality of its own....
, Sweden
Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the ?resund Bridge in the south....
 Bursa
Bursa, Turkey

Bursa is a List of cities in Turkey in northwestern Turkey and the seat of Bursa Province. With a population of 2,562,828 , it is Turkey's list of cities in Turkey, as well as one of the most industrialized and culturally charged metropolitan centers in the country....
, Turkey
Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in southwest Asia and Thrace in the Balkans region of Southern Europe....
 Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt

Halle is the largest city in the Germany States of Germany of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from Halle, North Rhine-Westphalia in North Rhine-Westphalia....
, Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 Leverkusen
Leverkusen

Leverkusen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the eastern bank of the Rhine, half way between Cologne and D?sseldorf....
, Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
 Odessa
Odessa

Odessa or Odesa is the Capital of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major port located on the shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 ....
, Ukraine
Ukraine

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south....
 Siófok
Siófok

Si?fok is a town in Hungary on the southern bank of Lake Balaton in Somogy County. The town is a popular holiday destination with several beaches and good climate....
, Hungary
Hungary

Hungary , officially in English the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia....


Friendship cities

Sendai, Japan
Japan

Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south....
 (since 2005)

See also

  • Chamber for Assistance of Finns and Foreigners (Oulu)
    Chamber for Assistance of Finns and Foreigners (Oulu)

    Chamber for Assistance of Finns and Foreigners is a non-formal network of people in the city of Oulu, Finland, with the purpose of helping friends with moving, employment issues or simply just offering an open ear....


External links

  • – Official website*