Savonlinna

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**Town of Savonlinna**

city in Finland

Province	Eastern Finland
Region	Southern Savonia
Sub-region	Savonlinna region
City manager	Janne Laine
Official languages	Finnish
Area - total - land	ranked {{{arearank}}} 1374 km² 822 km²
Population - total (December 31 2007) - change - density	ranked [[List of Finnish municipalities by population\|]] 26 792 {{{popchange}}} % 33/km²
Urbanisation	{{{urbanisation}}} %
Unemployment rate	{{{unemployment}}} %
http://www.savonlinna.fi/; http://www.savonlinna.travel/

The port of Savonlinna

Savonlinna (Nyslott in Swedish, literally Newcastle, or Нейшлот (Neishlott) in Russian during 18th and 19th centuries. The Finnish name means Castle of Savo.) is a municipality of 26 792 (16.1.2008) inhabitants in the southeast of Finland, in the heart of the Saimaa lake region.

Olavinlinna

The city was founded in 1639, based around Olavinlinna. The castle was founded by Erik Axelsson Tott in 1475 in an effort to protect Savonia and to control the unstable border between the Kingdom of Sweden and its Russian adversary. During the Russo-Swedish War, 1741-1743, the castle was captured by Field-Marshal Peter Lacy. It was held by Russia between 1743 and 1812, when it was granted back to Finland as a part of the "Old Finland".

This town is 335 km (Kilometers) away from the capital of Helsinki by road, some four hours away by train, and 40-60 minutes away by plane. It is built on a chain of islands located throughout a number of large lakes.

1 Attractions
2 Demographics
3 Sports
4 External links

[edit] Attractions

The city hosts the famous annual Savonlinna Opera Festival. The operas are performed on a stage built inside the castle. It also has hosted the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships annually since 2000.

[edit] Demographics

Population: 26 792 (2008)
Area: 1,374.00 km²
- of which is water: 551.74 km²
Population density: 33.5 inhabitants/km²

[edit] Sports

The ice hockey team of Savonlinna, SaPKo or Savonlinnan Pallokerho, is playing in the second tier Mestis. The volleyball team East Volley is playing in the second tier I-sarja. The football team STPS (Savonlinnan Työväen Palloseura), is playing in Kolmonen, the fourth tier.