Karstula
Karstula | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
| Karstulan kunta Karstula kommun | |
Karstula Church | |
|
Coat of arms | |
Location of Karstula in Finland | |
| Coordinates: 62°52.5′N 024°48′E / 62.8750°N 24.800°E | |
| Country | Finland |
| Region | Central Finland |
| Sub-region | Saarijärvi–Viitasaari sub-region |
| Charter | 1867 |
| Government | |
| • Municipal manager | Eino Nissinen |
| Area (2018-01-01) | |
• Total | 963.19 km2 (371.89 sq mi) |
| • Land | 887.06 km2 (342.50 sq mi) |
| • Water | 76.22 km2 (29.43 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 86th largest in Finland |
| Population (2025-06-30) | |
• Total | 3,541 |
| • Rank | 201st largest in Finland |
| • Density | 3.99/km2 (10.3/sq mi) |
| Population by native language | |
| • Finnish | 97.8% (official) |
| • Others | 2.2% |
| Population by age | |
| • 0 to 14 | 12.3% |
| • 15 to 64 | 52.8% |
| • 65 or older | 34.9% |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) |
| Website | karstula |
Karstula is a municipality of Finland founded in 1867. It is located in the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of 3,541 (30 June 2025) and covers an area of 963.19 square kilometres (371.89 sq mi) of which 76.22 km2 (29.43 sq mi) is water. The population density is 3.99 inhabitants per square kilometre (10.3/sq mi).
Neighbouring municipalities are Kannonkoski, Kivijärvi, Kyyjärvi, Saarijärvi and Soini. There are all together 159 lakes in Karstula, the biggest lakes being Pääjärvi, Enonjärvi and Vahanka.
The subject of the coat of arms refers to Karstula's position as the "gateway to Ostrobothnia", as the inland routes to Ostrobothnia have passed through Karstula in ancient times and still do today. The coat of arms was designed by Ahti Hammar, and the Karstula municipal council approved it at its meeting on 9 March 1953. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed the coat of arms for use on 16 July of the same year.