Joensuu

The explanation of the coat of arms of Joensuu reads: "shield twice blocked with upper moat and lower corrugated; fields in red, silver and black." The wave bar of the subject refers to the location of the city along the Pielinen River and the position of the moat near the eastern border of Finland, while its colors black and red are considered typical colors of Karelia. The coat of arms was designed by Toivo Vuorela, and it was approved by the Joensuu City Council at its meeting on May 10, 1957. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed the use of the coat of arms on November 19 of the same year.{{cite book| title= Suomen kunnallisvaakunat | publisher= Suomen Kunnallisliitto | year= 1982 | page= 152 | isbn= 951-773-085-3 | language= fi}}{{cite web | title= Sisäasiainministeriön vahvistamat kaupunkien, kauppaloiden ja kuntien vaakunat I:9 Joensuu | url= http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=1533876 | work= Kansallisarkiston digitaaliarkisto | access-date= March 28, 2021 | language= fi }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web| title= Ennen 8.4.1949 annettua kunnanvaakunalakia vahvistetut vaakunat I:7 Joensuu | url= http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=1366312 | work= Kansallisarkiston digitaaliarkisto | access-date= March 28, 2021 | language= fi}} In addition to the coat of arms, the city of Joensuu also uses a flag based on it, in which the silver of the coat of arms has been replaced by white.{{cite web |url=https://www.joensuu.fi/materiaalipankki |title=Materiaalipankki |language=Finnish |author=Joensuu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808200556/https://www.joensuu.fi/materiaalipankki# |archive-date=2019-08-08 }}

The city of Joensuu, founded by the Czar Nicholas I of Russia in 1848, is the regional centre and the capital of North Karelia. During the 19th century Joensuu was a city of manufacture and commerce. When in 1860 the city received dispensation rights to initiate commerce, former restrictions against industry were removed and the local sawmills began to prosper and expand.{{cn|date=June 2024}} Water traffic was improved by the building and opening of the Saimaa Canal in 1856. Consequently, a lively commerce between the regions of North Karelia, St. Petersburg and Central Europe was enabled. At the end of the 19th century Joensuu was one of the largest harbour cities in Finland.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Throughout the centuries Karelian traders have plied the Pielisjoki River. The river has always been the lively heart of the city. Canals – completed by 1870 – increased the river traffic.{{cn|date=June 2024}} Thousands of steamboats, barges and logging boats sailed along the river during the golden age of river traffic. The Pielisjoki River has also been an important log raft route, providing wood for the sawmills and for the entire lumber industry.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

During the last few decades, the formerly modest agrarian town has developed into a vital centre of the province. Success in regional annexations, the establishment of the region of North Karelia, and investments in education have been the most decisive actions in this development.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

The municipality of Pielisensuu was consolidated with Joensuu in 1954. At the beginning of 2005, the municipalities of Kiihtelysvaara and Tuupovaara were consolidated with Joensuu. At the beginning of 2009 the municipalities of Eno and Pyhäselkä were consolidated with Joensuu. After the most recent consolidations, there are approximately 73,000 inhabitants in the Joensuu municipal area.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

{{anchor|University_of_Joensuu01a}}

The University of Joensuu (now part of the University of Eastern Finland since January 2010.[http://www.uef.fi/uef/historiaa Steps leading to the establishment of the UEF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227111005/http://www.uef.fi/uef/historiaa |date=2013-02-27 }}) has, in twenty-five years, expanded to eight faculties. The university is one of the mainstays for the vitality of the city and so for all North Karelia. Diversified international cooperation in science, industry and commerce benefits the whole region.

The proximity of the eastern border has been an important factor in the history of the city. The Republic of Karelia is once again a significant area for cooperation with nearby regions in Russia. Export companies in Joensuu continue the pre-revolutionary traditions in foreign trade.

Joensuu offers varied cultural activities. A series of events – Ilosaarirock festival, Joensuu Music Winter, Festival of Visual Culture Viscult, Gospel festivals – and the unspoilt environment increases the attractiveness of the city.

Joensuu is sometimes referred to as the Forest Capital of Europe, mainly because the European Forest Institute is based there. Other forestry research and educational facilities are also based in Joensuu.

The neighboring municipalities of Joensuu are Liperi, Kontiolahti, Lieksa, Ilomantsi, Tohmajärvi and Rääkkylä. In addition, the city is part of the Joensuu sub-region, which currently also includes the municipalities of Heinävesi, Ilomantsi, Juuka, Kontiolahti, Liperi and Polvijärvi, as well as the town of Outokumpu.

Joensuu has a subarctic climate (Köppen: Dfc) closely bordering on a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfb) due to its high latitude and inland position. Being quite far inland, Joensuu has a more continental climate than most of Finland. As a result, Joensuu can be prone to temperature extremes both in winter and summer. For example, Joensuu is on average warmer than Dublin or Manchester in July, and colder than Moscow in January. Winters are long, cold and snowy. Summers however, bring frequent temperatures above {{convert|20.0|C|F}} and thunderstorms occur typically on 10–15 days per year.{{Cite web|url=https://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/tutkimustoiminta/-/asset_publisher/Dz9C/content/uutta-tietoa-pohjois-euroopan-ukkosista?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Filmatieteenlaitos.fi%2Ftutkimustoiminta%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_Dz9C%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-2%26p_p_col_count%3D1|title=Ilmatieteen laitos}} The highest temperature ever recorded {{convert|37.2|C|F}} on July 29, 2010, is the highest recorded temperature in Finland and the second highest ever recorded temperature in the Nordic countries, only behind Sweden's all time record at {{convert|38.0|C|F}}. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Joensuu was {{convert|-40.0|C|F}} on December 10, 1955. In winter, the snowcover is reliable and on average 50–70 cm deep. Annually, Joensuu experiences on average 24 days with temperatures {{convert|-20|C|F}} or colder while temperature below {{convert|-30|C|F}} is observed about once per year. Annual total precipitation averages at 589 mm, with about 225 mm of it falling in the form of snow.{{Cite web|url=https://retkipaikka.fi/retkeilijan-saa-osa-2-onko-siella-lunta-nain-ennakoit-lumen-paksuuden-ja-lumisateet/|title = Retkeilijän sää, osa 2: Onko siellä lunta? Näin ennakoit lumen paksuuden ja lumisateet|date = 19 April 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://suja.kapsi.fi/fmi-tilastot.php?taulukkomoodi=true|title = Säähavaintoarkisto – Taulukkotilastot – FMI Avoin data}}

{{Weather box

| location = Joensuu (1991–2020, extremes 1955–present)

| width = auto

| metric first = Yes

| single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 6.7

|Feb record high C = 7.8

|Mar record high C = 12.8

|Apr record high C = 23.5

|May record high C = 29.2

|Jun record high C = 32.0

|Jul record high C = 37.2

|Aug record high C = 31.4

|Sep record high C = 25.8

|Oct record high C = 18.7

|Nov record high C = 10.5

|Dec record high C = 8.3

|year record high C = 37.2

|Jan avg record high C = 2.8

|Feb avg record high C = 2.4

|Mar avg record high C = 6.6

|Apr avg record high C = 15.0

|May avg record high C = 23.6

|Jun avg record high C = 26.7

|Jul avg record high C = 28.1

|Aug avg record high C = 25.8

|Sep avg record high C = 20.1

|Oct avg record high C = 12.5

|Nov avg record high C = 7.1

|Dec avg record high C = 3.3

|year avg record high C = 29.2

|Jan high C = −5.6

|Feb high C = −5.4

|Mar high C = -0.1

|Apr high C = 6.3

|May high C = 13.9

|Jun high C = 19.0

|Jul high C = 21.9

|Aug high C = 19.4

|Sep high C = 13.4

|Oct high C = 6.0

|Nov high C = 0.4

|Dec high C = -3.1

|year high C = 7.2

|Jan mean C = -8.6

|Feb mean C = -8.6

|Mar mean C = -4.0

|Apr mean C = 2.0

|May mean C = 9.0

|Jun mean C = 14.3

|Jul mean C = 17.3

|Aug mean C = 15.1

|Sep mean C = 9.8

|Oct mean C = 3.6

|Nov mean C = -1.6

|Dec mean C = -5.5

|year mean C = 3.6

|Jan low C = −12.0

|Feb low C = −12.2

|Mar low C = −8.1

|Apr low C = -2.3

|May low C = 3.5

|Jun low C = 9.3

|Jul low C = 12.5

|Aug low C = 10.8

|Sep low C = 6.3

|Oct low C = 1.0

|Nov low C = −3.9

|Dec low C = −8.4

|year low C = -0.3

|Jan avg record low C = -26.8

|Feb avg record low C = -25.3

|Mar avg record low C = -19.0

|Apr avg record low C = -11.2

|May avg record low C = -3.9

|Jun avg record low C = 2.3

|Jul avg record low C = 6.7

|Aug avg record low C = 4.7

|Sep avg record low C = -0.9

|Oct avg record low C = -7.5

|Nov avg record low C = -14.7

|Dec avg record low C = -22.0

|year avg record low C = -29.5

|Jan record low C = -39.0

|Feb record low C = -38.5

|Mar record low C = -32.1

|Apr record low C = -21.4

|May record low C = -10.5

|Jun record low C = -4.2

|Jul record low C = 2.2

|Aug record low C = -1.7

|Sep record low C = -7.2

|Oct record low C = -16.8

|Nov record low C = -27.3

|Dec record low C = -40.0

|year record low C = -40.0

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 45

|Feb precipitation mm = 37

|Mar precipitation mm = 33

|Apr precipitation mm = 30

|May precipitation mm = 44

|Jun precipitation mm = 64

|Jul precipitation mm = 66

|Aug precipitation mm = 73

|Sep precipitation mm = 57

|Oct precipitation mm = 60

|Nov precipitation mm = 53

|Dec precipitation mm = 54

|year precipitation mm =

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 21

|Feb precipitation days = 17

|Mar precipitation days = 14

|Apr precipitation days = 12

|May precipitation days = 12

|Jun precipitation days = 15

|Jul precipitation days = 15

|Aug precipitation days = 16

|Sep precipitation days = 16

|Oct precipitation days = 18

|Nov precipitation days = 20

|Dec precipitation days = 21

| source 1 = FMI (Temperature data for Liperi Airport elevation 121 m, precipitation Joensuu Pyhäselkä elevation 79 m){{cite web

| url = https://www.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/ilmastollinen-vertailukausi

| title = Finnish Climate normals 1991-2020

| publisher = FMI

| access-date = 14 October 2021}}

|date=Oct2021

}}

{{Historical populations

| title= Historical population

| percentages = pagr

|state = collapsed

|1850|129

|1870|1087

|1890|2819

|1910|4789

|1920|4946

|1930|5196

|1939|5971

|1972|60095

|1980|63969

|1990|67363

|2000|71013

|2010|73305

|2020|76935

|footnote=Source: Tilastollinen päätoimisto,{{Cite web | url=https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/69230/stv_1940.pdf | title=Suomen tilastollinen vuosikirja 1940 | date=1941 | publisher=Tilastollinen päätoimisto | access-date=5 January 2024 | language=fi }} Statistics Finland (1972-2020)

}}

The city of Joensuu has {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Joensuu }}}} inhabitants, making it the {{ordinal|{{Data Finland municipality/population count sequence|Joensuu}}}} most populous municipality in Finland. The Joensuu region has a population of {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Joensuu}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Heinävesi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Ilomantsi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Juuka}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kontiolahti}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Liperi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Outokumpu, Finland}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Polvijärvi}}}}}}.

{{Bar chart

| title = Population size of Joensuu (and merged municipalities) 1990–2020{{Cite web | url=https://stat.fi/en/publication/cl8lprraorrr20dut5a0tywm5 | title=Number of foreign-language speakers grew by nearly 38,000 persons | date=31 May 2023 | publisher=Statistics Finland | access-date=12 September 2023 | language=en }}

| label_type = Year

| data_type = Population

| bar_width = 47

| width_units = em

| label3 = 1990

| label4 = 1995

| label5 = 2000

| label6 = 2005

| label7 = 2010

| label8 = 2015

| label9 = 2020

| data_max = 78000

| data3 = 67363

| data4 = 70507

| data5 = 71013

| data6 = 72292

| data7 = 73305

| data8 = 75514

| data9 = 76935

}}

{{Pie chart

|thumb = left

|direction=row

|caption = Population by
mother tongue (2024){{cite web |url= https://stat.fi/en/publication/cm1jg8tr20lco07vwvoif9s6i |title= Number of foreign-language speakers exceeded 600,000 during 2024 |date= 2025-04-04 |series= Population structure |publisher= Statistics Finland |issn= 1797-5395 |access-date=2025-04-10 }}

|label1 = Finnish

|value1 = 92.5

|color1 = #002F6C

|label2 = Russian

|value2 = 3.4

|color2 = #D52B1E

|label3 = Ukrainian

|value3 = 0.6

|color3 = #0056B9

|label4 = English

|value4 = 0.4

|color4 = #FFFFFF

|label5 = Arabic

|value5 = 0.4

|color5 = #165D31

|label6 = Bengali

|value6 = 0.3

|color6 = #FFFFFF

|label7 = Chinese

|value7 = 0.2

|color7 = #FFFF00

|label8 = Other

|value8 = 2.2

|color8 = #C5C5C5

}}

Joensuu is a monolingual Finnish-speaking municipality. {{As of|2024}}, the majority of the population, {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Joensuu }}}} persons ({{Percentage|sigfig = 3|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Joensuu }}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Joensuu }}}}), spoke Finnish as their first language. In addition, the number of Swedish speakers was {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Joensuu }}}} persons ({{Percentage|sigfig = 1|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Joensuu }}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Joensuu }}}}) of the population. Foreign languages were spoken by {{Formatnum: {{pct|{{Data Finland municipality/native language other|Joensuu }}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Joensuu }}|1}}}} of the population. As English and Swedish are compulsory school subjects, functional bilingualism or trilingualism acquired through language studies is not uncommon.

At least 40 different languages are spoken in Joensuu. The most commonly spoken foreign languages are Russian (3.4%), Ukrainian (0.6%), Arabic (0.4%) and English (0.4%).

{{As of|2024}}, there were 6,814 persons with a foreign background living in Joensuu, or 9% of the population.{{refn|Statistics Finland classifies a person as having a "foreign background" if both parents or the only known parent were born abroad.{{cite web |access-date=18 September 2023 |title=Persons with foreign background |publisher=Statistics Finland |url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset_en.html |archive-date=5 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105084300/https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset_en.html |url-status=dead }}|group=note}} The number of residents who were born abroad was 6,6626, or 8% of the population. The number of persons with foreign citizenship living in Joensuu was 4,911. Most foreign-born citizens came from the former Soviet Union, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden and Bangladesh.

The relative share of immigrants in Joensuu's population is below to the national average. However, the city's new residents are increasingly of foreign origin. This will increase the proportion of foreign residents in the coming years.

File:Joensuun Evankelis-luterilainen kirkko.jpg]]

In 2023, the Evangelical Lutheran Church was the largest religious group with 62.8% of the population of Joensuu. Other religious groups accounted for 6.2% of the population. 31.0% of the population had no religious affiliation.[https://pxdata.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px Key figures on population by region, 1990-2023] Statistics Finland

File:Joensuun Tori Drone.jpg and Joensuu City Hall]]

Joensuu is a growing provincial center with a service-oriented business life. The concentration of information and communication technology companies has taken place in the premises offered by the Joensuu Science Park. Major industrial companies include lock manufacturer Abloy Oy and forest machine manufacturer John Deere. Research and product development in Joensuu is held at the university, science park, METLA and a few companies in areas such as color research and diffractive optics. The companies that paid the most corporate tax in 2015 were Broman Group Oy, which sells car spare parts and accessories, the key company Assa Abloy Oy, the North Karelia Cooperative, E. Hartikainen Oy, which operates in the construction and car business areas, and Autokiinteistöt Laakkonen Oy.{{cite web | url = https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9262761#Joensuu | title = Alueen Joensuu yhteisöverotiedot | date = November 1, 2016 | work = YLE | access-date = June 30, 2021 | language = fi}}

The unemployment rate in Joensuu on December 31, 2018 was 14.7%.{{cite book|title=Joensuu taskukoossa 2019 |publisher=City of Joensuu |page=5 |language=fi}} Largest employers in 2006: City of Joensuu (4,409 employees), North Karelia Hospital District Consortium (2,220), University of Joensuu (1,244), Abloy Oy (800), North Karelia Education Consortium (537), Pohjois-Karjalan Osuuskauppa or PKO (512), VR companies (430), Pohjois-Karjalan Kirjapaino Oyj or PunaMusta Media (317) and Schauman Wood Oy (292). In the 2010s, the Palkeet Agency{{cite web | url = https://www.karjalainen.fi/uutiset/uutis-alueet/maakunta/item/97629-palkeet-ottaa-kayttoon-uudenlaista-ohjelmistorobotiikkaa | title = Palkeet ottaa käyttöön uudenlaista ohjelmistorobotiikkaa | date = 2016 | work = Karjalainen | access-date = June 30, 2021 | language = fi | archive-date = February 13, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160213091829/http://www.karjalainen.fi/uutiset/uutis-alueet/maakunta/item/97629-palkeet-ottaa-kayttoon-uudenlaista-ohjelmistorobotiikkaa | url-status = dead }} and the Finnish Defense Forces Service Center{{cite web | url = http://puolustusvoimat.fi/tietoa-meista/palvelukeskus | title = Puolustusvoimien palvelukeskus | work = Finnish Defence Forces | access-date = June 30, 2021 | language = fi}} were established in Joensuu.

There are four shopping centers in Joensuu: Iso Myy,[https://isomyy.fi/en/ Iso Myy] Metropol,[https://www.joensuunmetropol.fi/ Joensuun Metropol] (in Finnish) Plaza Centrum[https://plazacentrum.fi/ Plaza Centrum] (in Finnish) and one department store belonging to the Sokos chain.[https://www.sokos.fi/fi/sokos/myymalat/sokos-joensuu Sokos Joensuu] (in Finnish)

File:Joensuu Canal 1.jpg

Joensuu has a railway station and a bus station, which offers intercity connections to Helsinki and local connections to several other places. Numbered bus service is available to all parts of Joensuu. Joensuu also has an airport (located in nearby Liperi), with flights to Helsinki.

Joensuu is located along the Blue Highway, which is an international tourist route from Mo i Rana, Norway to Pudozh, Russia via Sweden.

File:Joensuu Areena 2.jpg]]

The city is known for its basketball club Kataja, which plays in the Finnish first-tier league Korisliiga. Other professional level clubs of Joensuu include Josba (floorball), Karelian Hurmos (volleyball), the world leading orienteering club Kalevan Rasti (orienteering) and Joen Juju (women's volleyball). The ice hockey team Joensuun Kiekko-Pojat plays in the Finnish second-tier league Mestis, and their home arena is the Mehtimäki Ice Hall. The local football club JIPPO plays in the second highest level of Finnish football, Ykkösliiga. Finnish baseball enjoys popularity as well and the local team, Joensuun Maila, plays in the top division Superpesis.

Notable sportspeople from Joensuu include Jukka Keskisalo, the European champion in 2006 at the 3000m steeplechase; Aki Parviainen, the world champion of javelin throwing in 1999; biathlete Kaisa Mäkäräinen, who won three overall World Cup titles in the 2010–11, 2013–14 and 2017–18 seasons; 1983 World Rally Championship winner Hannu Mikkola; 2013 Global RallyCross Championship champion and current World RX driver Toomas Heikkinen; and National Hockey League ice hockey players Urho Vaakanainen and Juuso Riikola.

File:Agora2009.JPG

Joensuu is a city of students.{{Cite web|url=http://www.joensuu.fi/web/english/education|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626193224/http://www.joensuu.fi/web/english/education|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2015|title=Education - joensuu.fi|website=www.joensuu.fi|language=fi-FI|access-date=2017-09-13}} The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) has one of its two main campuses in Joensuu{{Cite web|url=http://www.uef.fi/en/uef/introduction|title=Introduction {{!}} UEF|website=www.uef.fi|language=en-US|access-date=2017-09-13}} and the University of Applied Sciences Karelia{{Cite web|url=http://www.karelia.fi/en/|title=Introduction {{!}} KAUS|website=www.karelia.fi/en/|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-03}} has two Joensuu campuses. There are also five high schools in Joensuu: Lyceum High School,[https://www.joensuu.fi/lyseonlukio Joensuun lyseon lukio] (in Finnish) Upper Secondary Normal School,[https://www.uef.fi/fi/lukio Norssin lukio] (in Finnish) Joensuu Coeducational High School,[https://www.joensuu.fi/yhteiskoulunlukio Yhteiskoulun lukio] (in Finnish) Finnish-Russian Upper Secondary School of the Eastern Finland,[https://www.itasuomenkoulu.fi/en/ The school of Eastern Finland, Bilingual and international] and Pyhäselkä High School.[https://peda.net/joensuu/lukiot/pyh%C3%A4sel%C3%A4n-lukio Pyhänselän lukio] (in Finnish)

There is also the Joensuu Sports Academy, which is a co-operation network of educational institutions that offers athletes training and coaching.[https://www.joensuu.fi/urheiluakatemia Urheiluakatemia] (in Finnish)[https://kamu.uef.fi/en/student-book/sports-academy/ Sports academy – UEF Kamu][https://www.karelia.fi/en/sport-activities/ Sports activities – Karelia University of Applied Sciences]

• Ismo Alanko (born 1960), musician
• Toomas Heikkinen (born 1991), racing driver
• Floor Jansen, Dutch singer and the lead vocalist of Nightwish, lived in Joensuu between 2014 and 2015.{{cite web |last=Ahjopalo |first=Janne |date=June 28, 2014 |title=Nightwishin Floor Jansen yllättää muuttamalla Itä-Suomeen |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/nightwishin_floor_jansen_yllattaa_muuttamalla_ita-suomeen/7326619 |access-date=March 26, 2021 |work=YLE |language=fi}}
• Aku Korhonen (1892−1960), actor
• Matias Laine (born 1990), racing driver
• Suvi Lindén (born 1962), politician and former Minister of Culture
• Kaisa Mäkäräinen (born 1983), 3-time world-cup-winning biathlete
• Sini Manninen (1944–2012), painter
• Hannu Mikkola (1942–2021), rally driver
• Taneli Mustonen (born 1978), film director and screenwriter
• Janne Mertanen (born 1967), pianist
• Esa Pakarinen (1911–1989), actor, singer and accordionist
• Pentti Saarikoski (1937–1983), poet and translator
• Jouko Turkka (1942–2016), theatrical director and controversialist
• Mari Turunen (born 1970), actress
• Urho Vaakanainen (born 1999), ice hockey player

Joensuu is twinned with:{{Cite web |title=Kansainvälinen Joensuu |publisher=City of Joensuu |access-date=21 August 2019 |url= https://www.joensuu.fi/kansainvalinen-joensuu |language=fi }}

• {{flagicon|Sweden}} Linköping, Sweden (since 1940)
• {{flagicon|Iceland}} Ísafjörður, Iceland (since 1948)
• {{flagicon|Norway}} Tønsberg, Norway (1948)
• {{flagicon|Germany}} Hof, Germany (since 1970)
• {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Vilnius, Lithuania (since 1970)
• {{flagicon|Russia}} Petrozavodsk, Russia (cooperation agreement) (since 1994)

• Eno, Finland
• Finnish Lake Road
• Ilosaarirock
• Öllölä
• Pielisjoki Castle

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons}}

{{Wikivoyage|Joensuu}}

• [https://www.joensuu.fi/en/web/english City of Joensuu] {{in lang|en}}
• [https://www.joensuu.fi/ City of Joensuu] {{in lang|fi}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191807/http://webcam.sitefactory.fi/ Joensuu Marketplace webcam]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Joensuu

| N = Lieksa

| E = Ilomantsi

| SE = {{Flagicon|RUS}} {{Ill|Loymolskoye|ru|Лоймольское сельское поселение}}

| S = Tohmajärvi

| SW = Rääkkylä

| W = Liperi

| NW = Kontiolahti

}}

{{NorthKarelia}}

{{50 most populous Nordic urban settlements}}

{{50 most populous Finnish municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1848 establishments in Finland

Category:Cities and towns in Finland

Category:Grand Duchy of Finland

Category:Populated places established in 1848

Category:Populated lakeshore places in Finland

Category:Municipalities of North Karelia