Puolanka

The first permanent settlers in Puolanka came in the 1550s. At its peak Puolanka had a population of about 7,520 in 1960. Towards the end of the 1960s, however, Puolanka's population began to decline, alike other municipalities within Kainuu. ==Geography==

Ranked one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Finland, the Hepoköngäs, is located from the center of Puolanka. Villages Villages within Puolanka are as follows: • Aittokylä • Auho • Joukokylä • Kivarinjärvi • Kotila • Kongasmäki • Leipivaara • Lylykylä • Naulaperä • Puokio • Puolanka • Rasinkylä • Suolijärvi • Vihajärvi • Väyrylä • Yli-Oterma • Törmänmäki ==Politics==

Results of the 2023 Finnish parliamentary election in Puolanka: • Centre Party 38.0% • Finns Party 25.6% • Left Alliance 13.3% • Social Democratic Party 8.1% • National Coalition Party 5.4% • Christian Democrats 3.4% • Green League 1.9% • Power Belongs to the People 1.7% As of 2021 Finnish municipal elections, Puolanka municipal council is made up of: Centre Party (13 seats), Left Alliance (4), and Finns Party (4). == Notable individuals ==

• Juha Sipilä, the Prime Minister of Finland 2015−2019 • Louis Moilanen, giant • Markku Kukkoaho, sprinter • Santeri Haapanen, politician • Tuulikki Pyykkönen, Olympic cross-country skier == Gallery ==

File:Kalettomanlampi Puolanka.JPG|Lake Kalettomanlampi in Puolanka, seen from the southernmost shore towards northeast. File:Hepoköngäs.jpg|With its drop of 24 meters, Hepoköngäs is the highest waterfall in Kainuu. File:Keskijoki Puolanka.JPG|The river Keskijoki in Puolanka. File:Pirttijärvi Puolanka.JPG| The lake of Pirttijärvi in Puolanka, seen from the beach at the North-Western end of the lake towards southeast. ==References==