Country Finland Charter 1867 Time zone EET (UTC+2) Local time Saturday 7:57 AM | Sub-region Seinäjoki sub-region City rights 1986 Area 1,314 km² Region Southern Ostrobothnia | |
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Area rank 52nd largest in Finland Weather -11°C, Wind S at 8 km/h, 94% Humidity | ||
Kauhava is a town and municipality of Finland.
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Map of 62200 Kauhava, Finland
It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region, 400 kilometres (250 mi) northwest of Helsinki and by the main railway from Helsinki to Oulu. The town has a population of 16,756 (31 March 2016) and covers an area of 1,313.41 square kilometres (507.11 sq mi) of which 14.63 km2 (5.65 sq mi) is water. The population density is 12.75 inhabitants per square kilometre (33.0/sq mi).
Knife making is a traditional industry in Kauhava, and many Finns recognize the name of this small town because of knives made there. At one time, as many as five different knife-making enterprises were underway in the town, but today there is only one – Iisakki Järvenpää Oy, which has been making knives in Kauhava since 1879.
Puukko (one of the styles of Finnish knife) made in Kauhava are sometimes referred to as being in the Ostrobothnian style.
Each June sees the Kauhava International Knife Festival, lasting a couple of days and including knife exhibitions, knife making and knife throwing.
As with many Finnish localities, there are museums in Kauhava (Kauhava-Seura). One in the center of town features both the knifemaking tradition as well as the local textiles. An out-of-place fishing lure is one interesting feature of this museum. Another museum on the outskirts of Kauhava features the 19th century home and farm of Iisakin Jussi. It provides a view of late 19th century life in Western Finland. The Iisakin Jussi House is not open during the winter months.
The surrounding country is flat and well suited to agriculture, alternating between fields and forests. The town probably takes its name from the small river which passes through it.
Kauhava is the home of the Finnish Training Air Wing.
The surrounding municipalities of Alahärmä, Kortesjärvi and Ylihärmä were consolidated with Kauhava on 1 January 2009.
The municipality is unilingually Finnish.
Twin towns — Sister cities
Kauhava is twinned with: