Pyhäjärvi (until 1968, in official contexts, often Pyhäjärvi Ol
(Oulu County) as a difference from other municipalities of the same
name, in 1993–1995 Pyhäsalmi) is a Finnish city located in the
southern part of the province of Northern Ostrobothnia. The city has
a population of 5,090 people and an area of 1,459.46 km², of which
148.66 km² are water bodies. The population density is 3.88
inhabitants / km². The neighboring municipalities of Pyhäjärvi are
Haapajärvi, Kiuruvesi, Kärsämäki, Pielavesi, Pihtipudas and Pyhäntä.
At the beginning of 2017, Pyhäjärvi became the second smallest
municipality in Finland in terms of population, after Kaskinen,
after Juankoski joined Kuopio.
Until 1968, the municipality
of Pyhäjärvi was officially named Pyhäjärvi Ol, in 1969–1992
Pyhäjärvi, in 1993–1995 Pyhäsalmi and again from 1996 named
Pyhäjärvi. Other municipalities in Finland called Pyhäjärvi have
been Pyhäjärvi Ul, which now belongs to Karkkila, and Pyhäjärvi Vpl,
which was located in the ceded Karelia. Lake Pyhäjärvi became a city
in 1993.
Along the regional road 560 leading to Pielavesi,
there is a large boulder Rillankivi, which unites the borders of
three municipalities - Pyhäjärvi, Pielavesi and Pihtiputa - and
three provinces - Northern Ostrobothnia, Northern Savonia and
Central Finland. Until 1997, the stone was a common landmark of the
counties of Oulu, Central Finland and Kuopio. Pyhäjärvi has the
deepest (1.4 km) and most modern metal mine in Europe, owned by the
Canadian company First Quantum Minerals, from which ore containing
zinc and copper is mined. In late summer, the Full Moon Dances
Festival will be held in Pyhäjärvi, which is the most significant
contemporary dance event in Finland.