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Geonivora
Municipality

Kontiolahti

Located in Joensuu, North Karelia Coordinates: 62°45′40″ N 29°52′58″ E

Map showing the location of Kontiolahti Kontiolahti
Location in Finland
Population
15,040
15K
Elevation
137 m
above sea level
Local time
UTC+02:00
Europe/Helsinki · UTC+02:00
Places inside
2
listed under Kontiolahti
When to go
June–August
See the climate
Airports
JOE Joensuu Airport18 km
SVL Savonlinna Airport103 km

About Kontiolahti

Kontiolahti is a municipality. Location: Joensuu, North Karelia. Population: 15,040. Elevation: 137 m.

From Wikipedia

Kontiolahti (Swedish: Kontiolax; literally meaning "bear bay") is a municipality in Finland. It is located in the North Karelia region, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Joensuu. The municipality has a population of 15,060 (31 December 2025) and covers an area of 1,029.82 square kilometres (397.62 sq mi) of which 230.1 km2 (88.8 sq mi) is water. The population density is 18.83 inhabitants per square kilometre (48.8/sq mi). Neighbouring municipalities are Joensuu, Juuka, Lieksa, Liperi and Polvijärvi.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

At a glance

Area
800 km²
Official website
kontiolahti.fi

Source: Wikidata

Travel notes for Kontiolahti

From Wikivoyage

Kontiolahti is a municipality in the heart of North Karelia in Eastern Finland.

Understand+

The municipality was founded in 1873. Today it has some 14,600 inhabitants. The population growth has continued at the same rate since 1978 and is estimated to continue at about 100 people per year. The population breakdown by age shows an unusually high percentage of youth and children. This is indicative of a vibrant, continuously developing and growing community.

Get in+

By plane:

Domestic flights from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport to nearest City Joensuu. From there you have to travel by taxi or bus.

By train:

The nearest train station is in Joensuu. Long-distance trains from Helsinki and Pieksämäki terminate in the heart of the city at the Joensuu Railway Station.

By car:

By bus:

Joensuu local transport Jojo has services from Joensuu to Kontiolahti. Kontiolahti belongs to JOJO Waltti fare zone B. Long-distance bus from Oulu and Kajaani to Joensuu stops at Kontiolahti, more information from Matkahuolto.

By boat:

Source: Wikivoyage · CC BY-SA 4.0 · abridged

Places bordering Kontiolahti

  • Joensuu
  • Juuka
  • Lieksa
  • Liperi
  • Polvijärvi

Population of Kontiolahti over time

Population of Kontiolahti over time
2008 13,490
2009 13,677
2010 13,722
2011 14,000
2012 14,245
2013 14,422
2014 14,681
2015 14,827
2016 14,806
2017 14,830
2022 15,157
2023 15,136

Censuses and official estimates; source: Wikidata.

Climate of Kontiolahti

Best months for sightseeing

Best months for sightseeing: June–August.

This month · November

A cold month

Day -1° · Night -6° · Rain 56 mm

Hottest month
July (day 21°)
Coldest month
February (night -15°)
Wettest month
August (80 mm)
Driest month
February (33 mm)

Bars: average monthly low and high temperature. Below: precipitation. Monthly averages for 1970–2000 at about 18 km resolution, adjusted for elevation. Highlighted months are mild and relatively dry. Source: WorldClim 2.1 (CC BY 4.0).

Show values as a table
Climate of Kontiolahti
Month JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high (°C)-7°-6°0°5°14°19°21°18°12°5°-1°-5°
Average low (°C)-14°-15°-9°-4°3°9°11°9°4°0°-6°-11°
Precipitation (mm)403333353767758063595652

Other places to visit in this season: June July August

How to get to Kontiolahti

The nearest airport is Joensuu Airport (JOE), 18 km to the southwest as the crow flies. For international flights: Kuopio Airport (KUO) (110 km).

Airports

  • Joensuu Airport (JOE) Joensuu 18 kmsouthwest
  • Savonlinna Airport (SVL) Savonlinna 103 kmsouthwest
  • Kuopio Airport (KUO) Kuopio / Siilinjärvi 110 kmwest

Straight-line distances; road distances are longer. Airport data: OurAirports.

Day trips from Kontiolahti

Within 100 km: 5 natural sites, 36 lakes, rivers and coasts.

0–25 km5 places

  • Enonselkä Lake 23 kmN
  • Höytiäinen Lake 9 kmW
  • Koitajoki River 23 kmNE
  • Kangasvesi Lake 12 kmSE

25–60 km10 places

  • Patvinsuon Kansallispuisto Natural site 56 kmNE
  • Kolin Kansallispuisto Natural site 35 kmN
  • Suurijärvi Lake 51 kmSW
  • Pyhäselkä Lake 29 kmS

60–100 km26 places

  • Puruvesi Lake 99 kmS
  • Vuotjärvi Lake 87 kmNW
  • Viiksinselkä Lake 73 kmSE
  • Kermajärvi Lake 71 kmSW

Straight-line distances.

Places in Kontiolahti

2 places
  1. 1 Kontiolahti 15.1K

Bar: population relative to the most populous place in this list.

Cities & villages1

Nearby attractions & nature

Everything nearby

Sources & licences

Data last updated: · 2 independent sources