Kangasniemi is a municipality in the Southern Savonia region, Finland. The municipality has a population of 5,114 (31 December 2023) and covers an area of 1,326.75 square kilometres (512.26 sq mi) of which 256.86 km (99.17 sq mi) is water. The population density is 4.78 inhabitants per square kilometre (12.4/sq mi).

Kangasniemi is located on the Finnish national road 13, 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Mikkeli and 63 km (39 mi) southeast of Jyväskylä. Distance to the national capital, Helsinki is 250 km (160 mi). Its neighbour municipalities are Hankasalmi, Hirvensalmi, Joutsa, Mikkeli, Pieksämäki and Toivakka.

There are almost 3600 (May 2014) summer houses, and summer guests redouble the number of inhabitants during the summer months.

The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

History

The municipality was founded in 1867.

Nature

There are more than 1,550 kilometres (960 mi) of shoreline. The largest lakes are Puulavesi and Kyyvesi. Some other lakes are Mallos and Synsiä. In 1997, Kangasniemi was voted the most beautiful municipality in Finland by television show.

Economy

Kangasniemi has large forest resources, approximately 12,000,000 cubic metres (420,000,000 cu ft), and the yearly growth is approximately 500,000 m (18,000,000 cu ft). There is also Puula golf field.

Famous natives

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• Emilie Björkstén, poet
• Hilding Ekelund, architect
• Otto Manninen, writer, poet and translator
• Tepa Reinikainen, shot putter
• Hiski Salomaa, singer and songwriter
• Virpi Sarasvuo, née Kuitunen, cross-country skier
• Sami Sarjula, actor
• Martti Tolamo, athlete

Gallery

• 
  Church
• 
  Läsäkoski canal
• 
  Syvälahden lava

See also

• Kangasniemi Church