Harjavalta is a town and municipality in Finland. It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Satakunta region.
Today people in the town are employed in the copper and nickel smelting industries. Today’s most used metal recovery method, the flash smelting method, was developed at Harjavalta and implemented in 1949. Originally part of Outokumpu, a Finnish company, the copper business is now owned by Boliden and the nickel business by Norilsk Nickel.
Hiittenharju is a ridge in Harjavalta, known for its archaeology and cultural history. The banks of the ancient Litorina Sea lies on the fringes of the Hiittenharju ridge.
The river Kokemäenjoki river runs through the town. The municipality is unilingually Finnish.
Sights
Emil Cedercreutz Museum
One of the most important attractions in Harjavalta is the Emil Cedercreutz Museum and Artist’s Home. It presents the sculptor-silhouette artist Emil Cedercreutz’s own production as well as the art and ethnographic artefacts he collects.
Hiidenkiuas’es
There are about a hundred Hiiumaa heaters , or ancient burial mounds, in Harjavalta . Thorough archaeological excavations of Hiiumaa heaters have found, among other things, stone and bronze axes, pieces of earthenware and grindstone.
Harjavalta Old Church
The second wooden church in the order of Harjavalta was originally built in 1750 and completely renovated according to GT Chiewitz’s design in 1870. The church is a long tower with a saddle roof, with long side buildings lower than the main building. The church has since been repaired several times in the 20th century. The church covers an area of 290 square meters and has seating for 340 people. The two clocks on the belfry have the years 1688 and 1740.
Other
- The Church of All Bliss
- Hiittenharju Sports Center
- The nature trail of paradise
- Satalinna Hospital – an area belonging to the National Board of Antiquities’ Nationally Significant Built Cultural Environments
Culture
Visual Arts
Harjavalta lived and worked as a visual artist Emil Cedercreutz , which the artist Harju domestic Lasta and its surroundings were made after the artist’s death Emil Cedercreutz Museum .
Literature
- Emil Nervander lived in Harjavalta for the last years. He has been buried in Harjavalta Cemetery .
- Author Pertti Koskinen lives in Harjavalta.
- Writer-editor Irene Naakka is from Harjavalta.
- Author Martti Tenkanen lived in Harjavalta.
Music
The rock band Maj Karma , who has been successful on the Finnish album list, is from Harjavalta , and the lead character is vocal soloist Herra Ylppö . Every year in July, the band hosts Karmarock rock festivals. Other music festivals held in Harjavalta have included Metalliaurinko and Valtarock . Alternative rock band Lapko is from Harjavalta and goregrind death metal band Torsofuck .
Singer Katri Ylander is from Harjavalta.
Food culture
Harjavalta pitäjäruoiksi was named in the 1980s whitefish soup , pickled whitefish and rutabaga casserole .
