Varkaus, Finland (NC)


 * +Varkauden kaupunki
 * Founded || 1887
 * Area || 86.9 km²
 * Population as of Density || 171,652 2005 1975.3/km²
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 * Population as of Density || 171,652 2005 1975.3/km²
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Varkaus is a town and municipality in the province of Eastern Savonia, in the state of Finland, Ugrian Union.

History
Before 1865 AD, the area of the modern downtown was a modest village, with much land underwater. South of the village was the lake Akonjärvi, with its surface almost 5 m higher than that of Haukivesi. The lakes (Akonjärvi&Haukivesi) were separated by a ridge, spanning from Kuvansi to the present-time suburb of Akonlahti. The river connecting these lakes flowed through Kuvansi, and it had lots of industrial activity.

However, Kuvansi had many infrastructural difficulties regarding further growth. Railways were obviously to become the main form of industrial/passenger transport, but construction of a railway through Kuvansi to Karelia would need the demolition of much of the town centre. Furthermore, Kuvansi could only be reached by water from south, not serving the influence sphere of Lake Kallavesi, and the Savonian centre, Kuopio.

Therefore, after doing geological surveys on the ridge, it was decided, that the ridge should be demolished, so that the only place of water level difference between Saimaa lake area and Kallavesi would be at Varkaus. The water level of Akonjärvi became identical to the level of Haukivesi in December 1865, and the route became navigable by steam boats in June 1866.