Parikkala

{{expand Finnish|date=June 2023|topic=geo}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Parikkala

| official_name = {{lang|fi|Parikkalan kunta}}
{{lang|sv|Parikkala kommun}}

| settlement_type = Municipality

| image_skyline = Parikkalan kirkko.jpg

| image_caption = Church of Parikkala

| image_shield = Parikkala.vaakuna.svg

| shield_size = 120x80px

| image_map = Parikkala sijainti Suomi.svg

| map_caption = Location of Parikkala in Finland

|coordinates = {{coord|61|33|N|029|30|E|display=inline,title}}

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = {{flag|Finland}}

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = South Karelia

| subdivision_type2 = Sub-region

| subdivision_name2 = Imatra

| leader_title = Municipality manager

| leader_name = Mervi Pääkkö

| established_title = Charter

| established_date = 1635

|area_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Parikkala}}

|area_total_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Parikkala}}

|area_land_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Parikkala}}

|area_water_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Parikkala}}

|area_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Parikkala}}

|population_as_of = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Parikkala}}

|population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Parikkala}}

|population_total = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Parikkala}}

|population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Parikkala}}

|population_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Parikkala}}

|demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Parikkala}}

|demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Parikkala}}

|demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Parikkala}}

|demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Parikkala}}

|demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Parikkala}}

|demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Parikkala}}

|demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Parikkala}}

|demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Parikkala}}

|demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Parikkala}}

|demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Parikkala}}

|blank_name = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Parikkala}}

|blank_info = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Parikkala}}

| blank3_name = Climate

| blank3_info = Dfc

|timezone = EET

|utc_offset = +02:00

|timezone_DST = EEST

|utc_offset_DST = +03:00

| website = {{Url|https://parikkala.fi/}}

}}

Parikkala ({{IPA|fi|ˈpɑrikːɑlɑ}}) is a municipality of Finland located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the South Karelia region, {{convert|97|km}} from Lappeenranta and {{convert|139|km}} from Joensuu. The town center of Parikkala is about {{convert|10|km}} from the Russian border. The municipality has a population of {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Parikkala}}}} ({{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}} }}) and covers an area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Parikkala}}|km2}} of which {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Parikkala}}|km2|abbr=on}} is water. The population density is {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Parikkala|round=2}}|PD/km2}}.

Parikkala is located around lake Simpele and it is a part of a countryside rich with hills and chains of ridges. The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

History

Image:Parikkalan kirkko vanha.jpg

Settlements and artifacts dated to the Stone Age and Bronze Age have been found in Parikkala. A permanent settlement was established around the 15th century.

Many demarcations had a significant impact to Parikkala's development from the Treaty of Nöteborg on August 12, 1323, to peace treaties signed in 1947 with the Soviet Union; for example, in the Treaty of Nystad from 1721, which in practice defined roughly Finland's current border with Russia, Parikkala remained the only current Finnish municipality on the Russian side before the formation of the Grand Duchy of Finland.[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12095022 YLE: Rajakivestä löytyi "hymiö", jonka alkuperää ei tiedetä – kyseessä voi olla 300 vuotta vanha ruotsalaisvitsi] (in Finnish) After World War II, one third (199.3 km2) of Parikkala's area was handed over to the Soviet Union. The Orthodox Church has been very influential in this area since the Middle Ages. Later, Parikkala has become known for its many dairies. Parikkala became independent in 1617.

In 2004, three municipalities (Parikkala, Saari and Uukuniemi) merged to form one municipality called Parikkala.

Education

A comprehensive school, one of the first rural schools in Karelia of Ladoga, was founded in 1907. In 1910 the first three-class school building was built; later it expanded to include a gymnasium, hall and kitchen.{{Clarify|reason=This sentence is rather confusing, and needs work from someone who knows about the subject|date=November 2008}} A grand piano was provided in the hall, and Finnish artists Toivo Kuula and Oskar Merikanto held their concerts there when visiting Parikkala. Upper secondary school started in the year 1940 and the first class graduated in 1943. The largest number of pupils was in the 1950s, when over 500 pupils attended school there.

Traveling and routes

Parikkala is located on the main railway line from Helsinki to Joensuu. A railway station is located in the middle of Parikkala village center. Traveling time is about three and half hours from Helsinki, and all passenger trains stop at Parikkala. The city of Imatra is about 60 km south of Parikkala.

=Attractions=

File:Veijo Ronkkonen.jpg

One of Parikkala's most famous attractions is the park of more than 500 sculptures worked by {{ill|Veijo Rönkkönen|fi}}, located along the Highway 6. This sculpture park has been called one of the "most terrifying places on Earth".{{cite web|url=https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-10-15/the-most-terrifying-places-on-earth?tw=social|title=The 23 Most Terrifying Places on Earth|first=Caitlin|last=Morton|work=Condé Nast Traveller|date=17 October 2023|access-date=11 July 2024}}

Notable people

{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2024}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}