Pihlajavesi (historically also known as Pihlainen) is a town and a former municipality of Finland, which in 1969 was merged into the municipality of Keuruu, located in the Central Finland region.[5][6]

Pihlajavesi
Former municipality
Pihlajaveden kunta Pihlajavesi kommun
Pihlajavesi railway station in 2016
Coat of arms
Location of Pihlajavesi in Finland
Coordinates: 62.3452°N 24.3935°E / 62.3452; 24.3935
Country	Finland
Region	Central Finland
Sub-region	Keuruu sub-region
Municipality	Keuruu (as of 1969)
Merged	1969
Area [1]
• Land	416 km2 (161 sq mi)
Population  (31 December 1968)[2]
• Total	1,744
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal number	42910[3]
Area code	014[4]

Geography

Pihlajavesi borders Ähtäri, Vilppula, Virrat and Pohjaslahti, and before the municipality merger also bordered Keuruu. At the time of the merger, the population of Pihlajavesi was over 1,700 people, but this has since then decreased to under 500, although in the summer months the number increases significantly due to holiday-makers and owners of summer residences.[6]

The eponymous Lake Pihlajavesi is located within the municipality, and connects via Lake Tarjanne to the Kokemäenjoki basin, which drains into the Bothnian Sea.

Amenities

There are two Lutheran churches in Pihlajavesi. The old church, designed by Matti Åkerblom and built in the early 1780s, is located in the forest outside the main populated areas, and is often referred to as the Erämaakirkko (lit. 'Wilderness church').[7] It has been designated and protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency as a nationally important built cultural environment (Valtakunnallisesti merkittävä rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö).[8]

The new church, designed by Ernst Lohrmann and built in 1869–1871, is nowadays the main operational church of the parish.[9]

There is a primary school in Pihlajavesi, but for secondary education pupils to travel to the centre of Keuruu.[10]

For passenger traffic, Pihlajavesi is served by the Pihlajavesi station on the Haapamäki–Seinäjoki railway line.[11]

Notable people

Notable people originating from Pihlajavesi include:

• Anton Collin, cross-country skier
• Väinö Kallio, member of parliament
• Erkki Kanerva [fi], member of parliament
• A. V. Koskimies, linguist and writer
• Heikki Nurmio, soldier and writer
• Matti Raivio, cross-country skier

References