What is "kouvola"

Kouvola is a town and municipality in southeastern Finland. It is located northeast of the capital, Helsinki.

The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .

The town originally grew up around the junction of the north-south and east-west rail tracks. It was also a major road transport junction.

In January 2009, the six municipalities of Kouvola, Kuusankoski, Elimäki, Anjalankoski, Valkeala and Jaala were consolidated, forming the new municipality of Kouvola. Kouvola can now claim the natural beauty of Valkeala and Jaala as well as the cultural heritage of Elimäki and Anjalankoski as its own, the town itself being infamous for its Soviet-like Brutalist architecture and allegedly high crime rate . Kouvola has also assumed the slogan Kymijoen kaupunki (the town of Kymijoki) previously used by Anjalankoski.

Newspapers Kouvolan Sanomat and Keskilaakso are published in Kouvola.