Juankoski (Swedish: Strömsdal) is a former Finnish city in the
province of Northern Savonia. Juankoski joined the city of Kuopio at
the beginning of 2017. The city was home to 4,731 people and covered
an area of 586.26 square kilometers, of which 120.99 square
kilometers were water bodies. The population density was 10.17
inhabitants / km2. Juankoski's neighboring municipalities were
Juuka, Kaavi, Kuopio, Rautavaara and Tuusniemi.
One of
Juankoski's largest employers is Valmet Oy, a factory that
manufactures wet fabrics. Previously, Stromsdal Oyj's board mill was
also a significant employer, but its operations ended in bankruptcy
in 2008. Juankoski is home to Juankoski Entrepreneurs, a regional
association of Savo Entrepreneurs.
Juankoski was the second
smallest municipality in Finland after the Kaskinen population.
Despite the designation, Juankoski was a rural municipality
according to the statistical classification of municipalities due to
its low degree of agglomeration and the central population of less
than 4,000 inhabitants.
In August 2014, the Juankoski City
Council decided to join Kuopio at the beginning of 2017, and in June
2016, the Government approved the merger of the cities.
1. Juankoski Ironworks (Juankosken Ruukki)
This is the standout
historical landmark and the heart of Juankoski’s identity. Founded in
1746 by Brynolf Brunou, it is one of the oldest lake ore ironworks
complexes in Finland and among the most extensive and best-preserved
ironworks areas in the country.
Key Features: The site includes
historic factory buildings, worker housing, a manor house (Patruuna Hill
Manor, completed around 1826), rapids, and remnants of industrial
operations. It operated for centuries, evolving from iron production to
paper and cardboard manufacturing.
Significance: 2026 marks the 280th
anniversary of its founding. The industrial river landscape with rapids
is particularly scenic.
Visiting: The area is walkable and
photogenic. It reflects Finland’s early industrial history in a
peripheral region under Swedish rule at the time.
2. Museo Brunou
(Museum Masuuni Brunou / Juankoski Factory and Workers’ Museum)
Located in the old blast furnace ("masuuni") building, this museum is
the primary place to dive into the town’s industrial past.
It
covers the ironworks era, the transition to paper production, daily life
of workers, and local cultural history.
It was named the 2024 Local
Museum of the Year in Eastern Finland.
Exhibits include artifacts
from the factory, worker life, and the broader Strömsdalsbruk-Juantehdas
story.
The museum often hosts events and has an associated café
(Kahvila Vilpola). It’s a compact but rich site for understanding the
socio-economic development of the region.
3. Juice Leskinen
Statue and Square (Juicen Tori)
A prominent cultural monument
honoring the famous Finnish rock musician and poet Juice Leskinen
(1950–2006), who was born in Juankoski.
The bronze statue stands
in the central market square, renamed in his honor in the 1980s. The
square features lamp posts with lyrics from his songs.
It serves as a
local gathering spot and symbol of civic pride. Leskinen’s laconic wit
and connection to the town are often highlighted in local commentary.
A memorial plaque was added later.
4. Churches
Several
churches reflect the spiritual and architectural history of the area:
Juankosken Kirkko (Juankoski Church / Factory Church): Built in 1864,
this historic wooden church is tied to the ironworks community.
Church of the Resurrection (Ylösnousemuksen kirkko): A more modern
structure.
Kaavin Kirkko and Muuruveden Kirkko (Muuruvesi Church):
Nearby churches in the surrounding districts, offering traditional
Finnish wooden church architecture and peaceful settings.
These
churches are modest but characteristic of rural Savonian ecclesiastical
buildings.
5. Natural Landmarks and Outdoor Sites
Juankoski’s
surroundings emphasize Finland’s nature:
Seinävuori Gorge and Hiking
Trails: Features a dramatic gorge, lake views, swimming spots, and
barbecue areas. Short but rewarding trails with natural beauty.
Pisa
Observation Tower (in Pisa Nature Conservation Area, protected since
1963): Offers panoramic views of forests, hills, and lakes, extending
toward Kuopio on clear days. Includes an ancient protected pine tree.
Popular for hiking (Pisan kierto trail).
Lastukoski Canal and Rapids:
Scenic waterway spots ideal for relaxation by the water.
The broader
area has lakes, forests, and trails suitable for hiking, cycling,
fishing, and swimming. The water route from Kuopio to Tahko via
Juankoski is noted for beautiful lake and hill scenery.
Other
Notable Mentions
War memorials (e.g., Sankarimuistomerkki,
Vapaussodan 1918 muistomerkki) — common in Finnish towns, honoring local
history.
Hydro power plants and coal kilns remnants from the
industrial era.
The overall townscape blends preserved 18th–19th
century industrial architecture with typical Finnish small-town feel.
8400 BC Juankoski's Akonpohja settlement has been dated to 8610–8270
BC, of which the median is 8400 BC. The place has been inhabited at
least occasionally around 10,400 years ago. At the time of the dating,
it was the dating of the fourth oldest Stone Age settlement in Finland.
1746 Incorporation license in 1746 for Juankosken Ruukki
(Strömsdalsbruk), the Keeper of Kuopio. The applicants were Mantal
Commissioner Brynolf Brunou and the Vicar of Kuopio, Henrik Argillander.
Finland's first lake ore furnace was built along the Jukajoki river. At
first there were problems with the procurement of raw material and coal.
There were also problems in production. Owners changed frequently.
Parish-wise, Ruukki's population belonged to Nilsiä (Nilsiä was Kuopio's
chapel parish).
1810 Ruukinpatruuna Ekholm's assassination.
1818 Adolf Wilhelm Tigerstedt as a cast iron cartridge.
1826 New main
building: Patrunanmäki mansion is completed.
1851 Court counselor
Anastasia Ponomareva buys the iron. The family owns Ruukki until 1900.
Ruukki is purposefully developed by renovating and building production
facilities.
1856 The Saimaa canal was completed, when products could
be sold, e.g. To St. Petersburg.
1860 The first 12-apartment house
intended for iron workers was completed. More houses were built in the
following years.
1861 A school was founded in Ruukki, and a priest
was hired as a teacher and to lead religious services.
1863 A church
was built at the factory to serve as a school and a church. The
independently functioning Juantehta factory congregation started its
activities as part of the Nilsiä congregation.
1889 Construction of
coal furnaces began. By the end of the century, eight of them were
completed.
1898 Electric light for Juankoski.
1900 Taimi Oy, which
owned the Juan factory, went bankrupt.
The Karjalankoski railway was
completed.
1907 The factory parish of Juankoski was transferred
to the Muuruvesi parish.
1911 Iron production ended.
1913
Cardboard production began. Juantehta's main product was white wood
cardboard.
1915 Construction of coal furnaces began. By the end of
the century, eight of them were completed.
1921 The second power
plant, the current power plant and electricity museum, was completed.
1923 Juankoski separated from Muuruvedi as an independent parish.
1925 Juankoski municipality was founded.
1951 The construction of
single-family homes on the company's land "marka plots" began.
1958
Juankoski Drama Club was founded.
1960 Regulation of Vuotjärvi began.
1961 The Karjalankoski power plant was completed and the regulation of
the basin (known locally as Välievesi) began.
1968 Suomen
Metallikutomo Oy built a wire factory. Later Viira Oy, 1984 Tamfelt Oyj,
Metso Oyj, Valmet Oyj.
1970 The thorough development of the cardboard
factory began with the renewal of the cardboard machine.
1971
Juankoski-Muuruvesi-Säyneinen municipal association.
1988
Kymi-Kymmene sold the Juan factory to the established Stromsdal Oy and
the power plants to Savon Voima Oy.
1990 Juankoski Cultural
Historical Society was founded.
1995 The operational Juankoski
electric power plant was completed.
2002 Karjalankoski canal and
Juankoski canal were completed.
2003 Ruukinkoulu was completed for
the use of the middle school, high school, Kansalaiopisto and the
Conservatory. Elementary school students eat in a multipurpose space
called Agora.
2008 Stromsdal Corporation filed for bankruptcy on
November 27, 2008. The collapse of Lehman Brothers was followed by a
loan crisis in the US housing market, which grew into a global banking
crisis. This was followed by an international recession. Stromsdal Oyj's
customers were faced with a financial crisis, as a result of which the
factory was unable to take care of paying for investments and acquiring
raw materials.
2011 The factory was transferred to the ownership of
Premium Board Finland Oy (PBF).
2014 Premium Board applied for
corporate restructuring. The company was forgiven almost all of its
debts. The district court declared the trial documents secret for 50
years.
2017 Juankoski and Kuopio merged on January 1, 2017. Kuopio
became Finland's largest summer cottage municipality.
2020 Savon
Voima built fish ladders at Karjalankoski and Juankoski hydropower
plants.
2021 Juankoski Kulttuurihistoriskallinen Seura prepared to
move the museum to Juankoski's oldest building, completed in 1860, or
Kahvilapytink.
Location and Coordinates
Geographic position: Approximately
63.067°N, 28.333°E (or 63°04′N 28°20′E).
It lies in the heart of the
Finnish Lakeland (Järvi-Suomi) in the Northeast Savo sub-region, roughly
50–60 km northeast of central Kuopio.
The area sits within the
broader Eastern Finland province, characterized by post-glacial
landscapes shaped by the last Ice Age.
Size and Composition
Total area: 586.26 km² (226.36 sq mi).
Water area: 120.99 km² (about
20.6% of the total), highlighting its lacustrine character.
Land
area: Roughly 465 km².
The former municipality included areas
consolidated earlier, such as Muuruvesi and Säyneinen in 1971.
Topography and Terrain
The terrain is typical of northern Savonia:
gently rolling to moderately hilly post-glacial landscape with moraine
hills, eskers, and low ridges.
Elevation: Average around 107 m above
sea level. Minimum ~75 m, maximum ~198 m in the broader area (with some
peaks like Pisa reaching higher, around 270 m at the summit).
The
landscape features a mix of forested hills, small valleys, peatlands,
and numerous lakes connected by rivers and streams.
It is part of the
Finnish Lakeland, with a hydrology dominated by interconnected water
bodies rather than dramatic mountains.
Hydrology: Lakes, Rivers,
and Rapids
Juankoski is defined by water. It sits on the banks of the
Juckais River (or Juankoski River), where the prominent Juankoski rapids
drop about 18 meters over a series of falls. These rapids historically
provided hydropower and remain a scenic and cultural landmark.
Major
lakes in/near the area include: Suuri-Pieksä, Ala-Siikajärvi,
Suuri-Säyneinen, Ylä-Pieksä, and many smaller ones (dozens of lakes and
ponds total).
Rivers and streams (e.g., Puntinjoki) connect these
water bodies.
Canals and locks, such as the Juankoski Canal
(completed 2002) and Lastukoski Canal/rapids, support historical and
recreational navigation as part of routes like the Tahko water route.
The abundance of water (over 120 km²) supports fishing, boating, and
creates a mosaic of aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Vegetation
and Land Cover
Forests: Dominate ~70% of the land, typical
boreal/taiga forest with pine, spruce, and birch as primary species.
Peatlands, wetlands, and open areas intersperse the forests.
The
region is part of the expansive Finnish forests, supporting wildlife
such as moose, deer, bears, and various birds.
Notable Natural
Features and Viewpoints
Pisa Observation Tower (on Pisa
hill/mountain): Offers panoramic views of the surrounding forests,
rolling hills, and lakes. The peak provides vistas extending toward
Kuopio on clear days.
Seinävuori Gorge (nearby in Tuusniemi area
influence): A dramatic vertical rock gorge, about 500 m long, 20–40 m
wide, and up to 25–40 m deep, with hiking trails, swimming spots, and
barbecue areas.
Other attractions include protected ancient pines and
various hiking trails through the wilderness.
Climate
Juankoski has a humid continental climate (Dfb) with cold, snowy winters
and mild summers, influenced by its inland northern latitude.
Winters: Cold, with average highs around 24°F (–4°C) and significant
snow cover.
Summers: Warmest months (June–August) with highs above
60°F (15–22°C).
Precipitation is fairly even year-round, with lakes
freezing in winter.
The topography moderates extremes somewhat due to
the many water bodies.
Human and Historical Geography Context
The location was chosen historically for natural resources: dense
forests for timber/charcoal and the rapids for hydropower (e.g., the old
ironworks from 1746). Today, as part of Kuopio, it retains a rural,
nature-oriented character with industrial remnants alongside tourism
focused on outdoor activities (hiking, fishing, boating, and nature
observation).
Akonvesi, Hipanlahti, Jouhteninen (Joutseninen), Muuruvesi (church
village), Säyneinen (church village), Vehkalahti, Västinniemi
Urban areas
See The agglomerations of Kuopio.
Fire and rescue
services
The units located at the Juankoski fire station on Kauppatie
are: JK11 fire truck, JK12 fire truck, JK13 tank truck, JK171 first
response and crew truck. In Juankoski, the Juankoski fire department's
boat JK-V1 is also on Niskakoski's beach. Juankoski has a semi-permanent
fire department.
First aid services in Juankoski are provided by
the Pohjois-Savo Hospital District, KYS Ensihoitokeskus, which also
provides the first aid service of the municipality of Kaavi.
The seats in the city council were distributed after the 2012
municipal elections as follows:
Center 12 places (−2)
Basic Finns
5 places (no change)
SDP 5 seats (no change)
Left Alliance 2 seats
(no change)
Christian Democrats 2 seats (+2)
Coalition 1 seat (no
change)
There were twin cities
Csepel, Hungary
Prääsä,
Russia
Viiratsi, Estonia
Well-known people from Juankoski or
people born in Juankoski
Eija Ahvo (b. 1951), musician/actress
Kaj
Chydenius (b. 1939), musician
Hannakaisa Heikkinen (b. 1974), Member
of Parliament
Rauno Kettunen (b. 1959), former Member of Parliament
Jaakko Kolmonen (1941–2016), TV chef
Immo Kuutsa (b. 1937), ski coach
Juice Leskinen (1950–2006), musician
Timi Lexikon (b. 1985),
rap/hip-hop artist (Muuruvesi)
Sanna Matinniemi (b. 1990), opera
singer
Anssi Neuvonen, musician
Veijo Pasanen (1930–1988), actor
(Muuruvesi)
Eero "Safka" Pekkonen (b. 1954 in Nilsiä, lived in
Juankoski), musician
Jori Sivonen (1948–2019), iskelmä composer
Hilja Väänänen (1896–1987), politician (Muuruvesi)