Editing Pihtipudas

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Pihtipudas
| official_name = {{lang|fi|Pihtiputaan kunta}}<br/>{{lang|sv|Pihtipudas kommun}}
| settlement_type = Municipality
| image_skyline = Pihtipudas gata.JPG
| image_caption = 
| image_shield = Pihtipudas.vaakuna.svg
| shield_size = 120x80px
| image_map = Pihtipudas sijainti Suomi.svg
| map_caption = Location of Pihtipudas in Finland
|coordinates = {{coord|63|22|N|025|34.5|E|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Finland}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Central Finland]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
| subdivision_name2 = Saarijärvi–Viitasaari sub-region
| leader_title = Municipal manager
| leader_name = Ari Kinnunen
|area_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Pihtipudas}}
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|area_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Pihtipudas}}
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|population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Pihtipudas}}
|population_total = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Pihtipudas}}
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|population_rank = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Pihtipudas}}
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|demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Pihtipudas}}
|demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Pihtipudas}}
|demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Pihtipudas}}
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|demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Pihtipudas}}
|demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Pihtipudas}}
|demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Pihtipudas}}
|demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Pihtipudas}}
|demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Pihtipudas}}
|blank_name = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Pihtipudas}}
|blank_info = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Pihtipudas}}
|timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +02:00
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +03:00
| website = {{URL|https://pihtipudas.fi/}}
}}
'''Pihtipudas''' is a [[municipalities of Finland|municipality]] of [[Finland]]. Pihtipudas is known for the annual javelin carnival and for [[Lauri Pihkala|Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala]], the inventor of [[Pesäpallo]], the Finnish variant of baseball.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/first-english-language-broadcast-of-finland-baseball-game-pesapallo|title=There's a pitcher, a batter... even a river sometimes. Welcome to Finnish baseball|first=Michael|last=Clair|publisher=[[Major League Baseball]]|date=2 August 2024|access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pesis.fi/pesis-info/in-english/|title=Introduction to the game|publisher=Pesäpalloliitto|language=Finnish|access-date=22 September 2022}}</ref>

==Location and geography==
Pihtipudas is the northernmost municipality of the administrative sub-region of [[Saarijärvi-Viitasaari sub-region|Saarijärvi-Viitasaari]] in the region of [[Central Finland]].  It is located on [[Finnish national road 4|highway 4]] ([[European route E75|E75]]), approximately {{convert|140|km|-1}} north of [[Jyväskylä]], {{convert|200|km|-1}} south of [[Oulu]] and {{convert|412|km|-1}} north of the capital [[Helsinki]]. The municipality covers an area of {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Pihtipudas}}|km2}} of which {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Pihtipudas}}|km2|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name="total_area"/> The neighbouring municipalities of Pihtipudas are [[Haapajärvi]], [[Keitele]], [[Kinnula]], [[Pielavesi]], [[Pyhäjärvi]], [[Reisjärvi]] and [[Viitasaari]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Municipality-based statistical units |url=https://stat.fi/org/avoindata/paikkatietoaineistot/kuntapohjaiset_tilastointialueet_en.html |website=Statistics Finland |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> Just under half of the residents live in the largest settlement of Pihtipudas. The main villages within the municipality are located on the lakes of [[Alvajärvi (Pihtipudas)|Alvajärvi]], [[Elämäjärvi]], [[Muurasjärvi]], and Saani on the [[Saanijärvi]], and at Ilosjoki, Korppinen, Kärväskylä,  Peninki, Rönnynkylä, Kojola and Seläläntaus. 

The landscape has the typical characteristics of the [[Finnish Lakeland]] geographical region, with extensive birch and pine forest cover, small granite bedrock extrusions and extensive bodies of water.  There are approximately 140 lakes in Pihtipudas municipality. The two largest lakes are Alvajärvi and Muurasjärvi, and smaller lakes include Saanijärvi, Elämäjärvi, Kinturi and Liitonjärvi. The northern parts of two large lakes, [[Lake Kolima|Kolima]] and [[Kolkku]], are also within the municipality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jarviwiki.fi/wiki/Pihtipudas |title=Pihtipudas |author= |date=2012 |work=Järviwiki |publisher=Finland's Environmental Administration |accessdate=27 February 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics==
The municipality has a population of {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Pihtipudas}}}} ({{#time: j F Y|{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}} }}),<ref name="population_count"/> steadily declining from 5,818 in 1987.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population Pihtipudas 1987 - 2022 |url=https://pxdata.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/fi/Kuntien_avainluvut/Kuntien_avainluvut__uusin/kuntien_avainluvut_aikasarja.px/table/tableViewLayout1/ |website=Statistics Finland |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> The [[population density]] is {{convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Pihtipudas|round=2}}|PD/km2}}. The municipality is 98.5% [[Finnish language|Finnish speaking]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Key figures on population by Area, Information and Year |url=https://pxdata.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px/table/tableViewLayout1/ |website=Statistics Finland |access-date=8 August 2024}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Prehistory ===
[[File:Prehistoric stone tools from Pidhipudas, Finland.jpg|thumb|left|Prehistoric stone tools from Pihtipudas, Finland]]
The area has been inhabited since the [[Prehistoric Europe|prehistoric period]], evidenced by a range of [[Stone Age]] sites in the municipality, including: Niemet Keidas and Halmeniemi in the area of Muurasjärvi village; Kivikko; Pitkänen; Männikkö; Viipylä; Metsälä; Koivukangas; Rimpisuo; Santaharju; Teen; and Auhtola. Prehistoric artifacts recovered from the area include stone axes, awls, scrapers and other tools.<ref name="Ultunen">{{cite web |last1=Utunen |first1=Heini |title=A short history of Muurasjärvi |url=http://www.pihtipudas.fi/muurasjarvi/kylan-historia |website=Pliingpudas |publisher=Pihtiputa Municipality|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303105851/http://www.pihtipudas.fi/muurasjarvi/kylan-historia |access-date=5 August 2024|archive-date=3 March 2018 }}</ref> The so-called 'Village of Rönni' at Rönnynkylä on the north-east shore of Saanijärvi has been dated to approximately 5,000 BC in the [[Mesolithic]] period and contained the bones of a small-sized dog, one of the earliest discovered in Finland.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mannermaa |first1=Kristiina |last2=Ukkonen |first2=Pirkko |last3=Viranta |first3=Suvi |title=Prehistory and early dogs in Finland |journal=Fennoscandia Archaeologica |date=2014 |volume=XXXI |pages=24–44}}</ref> Fragments of a clay figurine characterized as [[Comb Ceramic culture|Comb ware]] have also been retrieved from a Mesolithic site at Pihtipudas.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Polto |first1=Pertii |title=The Mesolithic Combware culture of Finland |journal=University of Berkeley, California |pages=32–29 |url=https://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/anthpubs/ucb/text/kas013-003.pdf |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> 
[[File:Prehistoric stone axe, found at Nokare, Pihtipudas, Finland.jpg|thumb|left|Neolithic stone axe head, found at Nokare, on display at Pihtipudas Museum, Finland]]Archaeological evidence for [[Neolithic]] settlement in the area is rare, but [[Paleoecology|palaeoecological]] data shows increasing signs of sporadic cultivation during the late Neolithic and the beginning of the [[Bronze Age Europe|Bronze Age]] between 2500 and 2100 BC, with pollen evidence for the first cultivation recovered from Pihtipudas, [[Keuruu]], and [[Saarijarvi]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Alenius |first1=Teija |last2=Mokkonen |first2=Teemu |last3=Antti |first3=Lahelma |title=Early Farming in the Northern Boreal Zone: Reassessing the History of Land Use in Southeastern Finland through High-Resolution Pollen Analysis |journal=Geoarchaeology |date=January 2013 |volume=28 |issue=January |pages=1–24 |doi=10.1002/gea.21428|bibcode=2013Gearc..28....1A }}</ref> Other evidence for human activity in the Neolithic period includes a [[Zoomorphism|zoomorphic]] stone mace, possibly carved with a fish or amphibian, believed to be associated with the arrival in Central Finland of cattle herding groups in the [[3rd millennium BC]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ville |first1=Mantere |last2=Kashina |first2=Ekaterina |title=Zoomorphic stone maces and axes in the forest zone of north-eastern Europe Manifestations of interaction between hunter-gatherers and cattle herding groups in the 3rd millennium BC |date=2022 |publisher=Monograph of the Archaeological Society of Finland |location=Helsinki |pages=35–44 |url=http://www.sarks.fi/masf/masf_10/masf_10.html |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> The prehistoric presence of the [[Sami people]] in the region are evidenced by two tampered cairns at Vaaksianniemi and Hameensaari.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Taavitsainen |first1=Jussi-pekka |title=Lapp Cairns as a Source on Metal Period Settlement in the Inland Regions of Finland 1 |journal=Acta Borealia A Nordic Journal of Circumpolar Societies |date=2003 |volume=20, 2003 |issue=1 |pages=21-47}}</ref> These were excavated in the 1980s and 1990s and contained bronze sheets with high elements of tin, dating them to the Early Metal Period of Central Finland.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Saipio |first1=Jarkko |title=Ritualisation of Landscape in the Finnish Lake District during the Early Metal Period |journal=Monographs of the Archaeological Society of Finland |date=2018 |volume=6 |pages=69–85}}</ref>

=== Post-prehistory ===
[[File:Pihtipudas Church 2013.JPG|thumb|Pihtipudas church, Finland]]The Pihtipudas region area was inhabited by [[Sámi peoples]] until the [[Middle Ages]]. The first known fixed settlement was established in the early 16th century with the first permanent residents of Pihtiputa, Pekka Varis and Pekka Rautaparta. The main industries were fishing and hunting, complemented by the development of grain and livestock farming.<ref name="PMC">{{cite web |title=Pihtipudas History |url=http://www.pihtipudas.fi/fi/yleista/historia/?id=251 |website=www.pihtipudas.fi/ |publisher=Pedestputa Municipal Centre | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830014513/http://www.pihtipudas.fi/fi/yleista/historia/?id=251 |access-date=5 August 2024| archive-date=30 August 2007 }}</ref>

Pihtipudas was first mentioned in 1552 as ''Pictipudhas'', when it was a part of the large [[Rautalampi]] parish.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finnish Settlement Archive: Rautalampi, Laukaa, Viitasaari, Saarijärvi |url=https://digihakemisto.net/item/3617561315/5737448874/47 |website=Digital Directory |publisher=Finnish National Archives |access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Along with [[Kannonkoski]], [[Kivijärvi]] and [[Konginkangas]], the area was transferred to the newly established Viitasaari parish in 1635.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Viitasaari - Tietoja Viitasaaresta|url=http://www.viitasaari.fi/kaupunki-ja-hallinto/tietoa-viitasaaresta|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112121929/http://www.viitasaari.fi/kaupunki-ja-hallinto/tietoa-viitasaaresta|archive-date=January 12, 2018|access-date=October 2, 2022|website=viitasaari.fi|language=fi}}</ref>{{Clarification needed|reason=Source states that Pihtipudas is a "neighboring municipality" of the church, according to Google Translate, but does that imply it is a member of the parish?|date=August 2024}}

The main church in Pihtipudas was completed in 1783 and built by the peasant church builder Simo Jylkkä. The belfry was completed in 1785. Pihtipudas became an independent parish in 1863.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SuomalainenPaikannimikirja_e-kirja_kuvallinen.pdf|url=https://kaino.kotus.fi/www/verkkojulkaisut/julk63/SuomalainenPaikannimikirja_e-kirja_kuvallinen.pdf|page=335|access-date=October 2, 2022|website=kaino.kotus.fi|language=fi}}</ref> The church was renovated in 1874, 1950 and 1991.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Church of Pihtiputa - Main Church |url=https://www.pihtiputaanseurakunta.fi/kirkot-ja-tilat/paakirkko |website=pihtiputaanseurakunta.fi |publisher=Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref> The first public school in Pihtiputas was established in the village church in 1877. In 1917-18 there were 81 students. The first school in Muurasjärvi in the south of the municipality was opened in 1887. A  Girl's National School was established in 1887.<ref name="Ultunen" />

By 1910 there were 286 rental farms in the municipality and 128 small farms of less than 0.5 hectares. Only 2% of the area of the municipality’s 103,771 hectares were cultivated, with 94% forested. Two-thirds of the farmed land, comprising 1,400 hectares, were owned by self-employed farms. In the early 20th century there were 246 residents for every 100 hectares of arable land.<ref name="Ultunen" /> In the late 1920s Lauri Tahko developed a sports field on land donated by the Läheaho estate near his summer cabin on Kolima lake in Hiekanpää, Ilosjoki. This field was used to train Olympic gold medalist [[Hannes Kolehmainen]] and to initiate the sport of Finnish baseball.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lounamaa |first1=Esko |last2=Räisänen |first2=Pentti |title=The Village of Happy Men |date=2009 |publisher=Esko Lounamaa |isbn=952-91-3802-4 |edition=1st}}</ref> 

In the 1940s the municipality was subject to post-war re-settlement with the introduction of migrants from 62 northern parishes, predominantly in the villages of Muurasjärvi and Kärväskylä.  These included evacuees from the agricultural area of [[Sortavala]] (now in Russia) and soldiers from [[Ostrobothnia (administrative region)|Ostrobothnia]].<ref name="Ultunen" /> As a consequence of post-war re-settlement the population grew to 8,500.<ref name="PMC" /> The memorial at the Military Cemetery adjacent to the church was unveiled in 1953 and sculpted by Ilmari Wirkkala. The cemetery contains the graves and memorials for approximately 60 Finnish soldiers, the majority killed in action during the [[Winter War]] of 1939-1940 and the subsequent [[Continuation War]] of 1940-1944.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pihtipudas, Muurasjärven Sankarihautausmaa |url=https://www.sotasampo.fi/en/cemeteries/page/h0673_2 |website=War Sampo |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

On 7 March 1969 Pihtipudas was the location of a [[mass shooting]], in which Tauno Pasanen, a smallholder, shot and killed four armed policemen.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sjöström |first1=Ralf-Erik |title=In Memorium 1917 - 2007: Police officers killed in office |date=2008 |publisher=Pohjola Police Book |isbn=9789525791013}}</ref> The incident was dramatized in the 1972 Finnish film ''[[Eight Deadly Shots]]'', directed by [[Mikko Niskanen]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kahdeksan Surmanluotia |url=https://elonet.finna.fi/Record/kavi.elonet_elokuva_100658 |website=Elonet |publisher=National Audiovisual Institute |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

The annual Boot Foot Rock festival ('Saapasjalkarock' in Finnish) was held in Pihtiputas between 1976 and 1988 and finally in 2006. The event was held eleven times, attracting an annual audience of 14,000 people. Notable performers at the 1986 festival included [[Metallica]] and [[Fabulous Thunderbirds]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vuorela |first1=Arvo |title=The Boot Foot Rock, born 40 years ago, will be celebrated with a tribute in July 1 |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-8892007 |website=YLE |date=19 May 2016 |access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref>

==Attractions==
=== Pihtipudas Javelin Carnival ===
The annual Pihtipudas Javelin Carnival was started in 1971 by local athletes Leo Pusa and Jorma Kinnunen. Female participation started in 1974 and a javelin school was introduced in 1975. It also includes a paralympics event. This 4-day summer festival is now the largest javelin festival in Finland, attracting regional and international athletes, including British Olympic team member [[Laura Whittingham]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tuluwami  |first1= Haile|title=Carnival of Pihtipudas: Passing on the Tradition |url=http://moti-athletics-roadtoolympics.blogspot.com/2012/06/javelin-carnival-of-pihtipudas-passing.html |website=A moment in Time | access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref> The only javelin museum  in Finland ('Keihäsmuseo' in Finnish) is located in the Putaanportti area of Pihtipudas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Javelin Museum |url=https://visitpihtipudas.fi/keihasmuseo/ |website=Visit Pihtipudas |date=29 April 2024 |publisher=Municipality of Pihtipudas |access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref>

=== Pihtipudas Local History Museum===
[[File:Traditional winter transportation.jpg|thumb|right|Traditional winter transportation, displayed at Pihtipudas Museum, Central Finland]]
The local museum is situated in a converted granary next to the church in the center of Pihtipudas.  The granary was built in 1857 and was acquired as a museum in 1960. The original building had double walls and floors with a wide space between them to prevent the theft of grain by drilling holes in the exterior.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pihtiputa Local History Museum |url=https://visitpihtipudas.fi/pihtiputaan-kotiseutumuseo/ |website=Visit Pihtipudas |date=29 April 2024 |publisher=Municipality of Pihtipudas |access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref> The museum contains approximately 900 items, including examples of local prehistory, fishing, agriculture and artisan crafts in several wood-lined rooms on two floors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kotiseutumuseo – Esittely |url=https://pihtipudas-seura.fi/kotiseutumuseo/ |website=Pihtipudas-Seura ry |publisher=Pihtipudas - Society |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

It includes a small selection of prehistoric artifacts from the area, including stone axes and other tools believed to be from the Stone Age and pottery from later prehistory. The collection includes a Stone Age axe head from the Neolithic period found in a field at Nokare in 1942, donated to the museum by Matti Pekkarinen.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

[[File:Mobile wood saw, Pihtipudas.jpg|thumb|Mobile wood saw, Pihtipudas Museum, Finland]]Other collections reflect the more recent traditional practices of the region, including fishing nets, boats, winter transportation and animal traps for bear and fox hunting. The museum also contains an example of a unique mobile wood saw ('Puunkaatosaha' in Finnish) used for cutting trees and transportable by ski.  It was invented in Pihtipudas by Uuno Kinnunen and presented to the Sandwick factory in Sweden in the 1950s, but was made obsolete by developments in mechanized tree-felling.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

=== Water recreation ===
[[File:Hiekkaranta beach at Pihtipudas, on the Alvajärvi, Finland.jpg|thumb|left|Hiekkaranta beach on the Alvajärvi at Pihtipudas, Finland.]]Pihtipudas has two discrete lakeside recreation areas: the north-west end of Kolima lake and the south-east end of the Alvajärvi. They are connected by the Heinäjoki river, running immediately to the north of the village. The river is spanned by Heinäjoki Bridge, a two-span stone-vault bridge commissioned by the Board of Public Roads and Waterways in 1919 and completed by the company Granit in 1924.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historic Roads and Bridges in Finland |url=https://www.tieh.fi/must/museotiet_ja_sillat_e.pdf |publisher=Finnish Road Administration |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

There are nature trails at Rapeikko on the west shore of Kolima lake and near the bridge at Heinäjoki. The trail at Rapeikko includes a tar burning pit and leads past Sarvilampi beach to the meadow at Rapeikko farm.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rapeikko Nature Trail |url=https://visitpihtipudas.fi/rapeikon-luontopolku/ |website=Visit Pihtipudas |date=16 April 2024 |access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref> The trail at Heinäjoki has duckboard walkways and bird watching towers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jenni |title=Heinäjoki nature trail in Pihtipudas |url=https://www.outinthenature.com/heinajoki-nature-trail-in-pihtipudas/ |website=Out in the Nature |date=5 April 2021 |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>  The municipality maintains two official beaches, at Häikkä on the west shore of Kolima lake near Saparoniemen and at Hiekkaranta (meaning in Finnish: ''Sandy Beach'') at the southern end of the Alvajärvi.  Both have basic changing and toilet facilities.  Other swimming and beach locations are located at Alvajärvi, Muurasjärvi, Elämäjärvi (Pening and Hassila beach), and at Kärväskylä beach at the north-east end of Kolima lake.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beaches |url=https://pihtipudas.fi/vapaa-aika-ja-matkailu/liikunta-ja-ulkoilu/uimarannat/ |website=Pihtipudas |publisher=Municipality of Pihtipudas |access-date=8 August 2024}}</ref>

The extensive fishing grounds of Pihtipudas consists of lakes Kolimajärvi, Alvajärvi, Muurasjärvi, Saanijärvi and Elämäjärvi. Stocked catch species include freshwater salmon, whitefish, pike, perch and brown trout.   Natural catch species are brown trout, pike and perch. All fishing in the area requires a fishing permit.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fishing ground of Pihtipudas |url=https://finland.fishing.fi/fishing-resort/3319/pihtiputaan-kalastusalueen-yhteislupa-alue-jarvi-kalastus-ja-lomamokki-tiedot-keski-suomi-pihtipudas |website=Fishing Finland |publisher=KalapaikkaNet 2023 |access-date=8 August 2024}}</ref>

=== Rillankivi boundary stone ===
[[File:Rillankivi ja kyltti Pohjanlahti 150 km - Laatokka 350 km.jpg|thumb|right|Medieval bounday stone at Rillankivi, near Pihtipudas.]]Situated 30 kilometers to the north-east of Pihtipudas is the Rillankivi boundary stone, or ''Stone of Rilla''. This [[glacial erratic]] is believed to be one of the stones marking the border of the Hazel Island Peace Treaty (Pähkinäsaaren Rauha) of 1323.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lind |first1=John |title=Rillankivi and the Oulainen Boundary Marks– Border Stones from the Nöteborg/Orekhovets Peace Treaty (in Finnish ) |date=1989 |publisher=Suomen Museo |location=Helsinki |pages=53–79}}</ref> This medieval boundary stone now marks the border between the municipalities of Pihtipudas, Pielavesi, and Pyhäjärvi. The site is protected by the [[Finnish Heritage Agency]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rillankivi |url=https://www.kyppi.fi/palveluikkuna/mjreki/read/asp/r_kohde_det.aspx?KOHDE_ID=1000000406 |website=Museovirasto |publisher=National Board of Antiquities |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref>
=== Imarrekivi stone ===
[[File:Imarrekivi Stone, Pihtipudas, Finland.jpg|thumb|left|The Imarrekivi Stone, a glacial erratic near Pihtipudas, Finland]]The Imarrekivi stone is a large glacial erratic located near Suurijärvi, south-west of Muurasjärvi, with one facet chipped to resemble a face. It is situated just off the Great Lakes hiking trail in the Harjuntakanen area.<ref name="ghlt">{{cite web |title=Great Lake hiking trail |url=https://pihtipudas.fi/vapaa-aika-ja-matkailu/liikunta-ja-ulkoilu/luontokohteet/suurijarven-retkeilyreitisto/ |website=Visit Pihtipudas |publisher=Pihtiputa Municipal |access-date=18 October 2024}}</ref> A local legend set in the 17th century tells how it was worshipped as a miracle-making place. On a Sunday night in the summer of 1600 Pekka Pekanpoika, a local Christian man from Muurasjärvi, went with his family to attempt to remove the face on the stone to discourage the heathen practice. Their attempts were halted when the 'Stone King of Imarrekivi' spoke with the words: "''Before you were born, I was.''" Then the face in the stone became even clearer.<ref>{{cite web |title=The story of Imarrekivi |url=https://visitpihtipudas.fi/imarrekivi/ |website=Visit Pihtipudas |date=26 March 2024 |publisher=Municipality of Pihtipudas |access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="ghlt" />

== Notable residents ==

* [[Lauri Ihalainen]], trade union leader and politician; Finnish Minister of Labour, 2011 and 2015.
* [[Artturi Jämsén]], Finnish politician. 
* [[Jorma Kinnunen]], javelin athlete.
* [[Ernest Paananen]], Finnish-American violinist, singer, and songwriter. 
* [[Lauri Pihkala|Lauri ”Tahko” Pihkala]], inventor of [[pesäpallo]], the Finnish variant of baseball.
*[[Paula Vesala]], singer

==Twin towns==
*{{flagicon|FRO}} [[Leirvík]], [[Faroe Islands]]<ref name="ystäväkuntalista">{{cite web|title=Ystäväkuntalista|url=http://pohjola-norden.ngmedia.fi/uploads/Ystavakunnat/ystavakuntalista.pdf|publisher=Pohjola-Norden|accessdate=7 May 2012|language=Finnish}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Iceland}} [[Borgarbyggð]]/[[Borgarnes]], [[Iceland]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Vennskapskommune samarbeide i Norden|url=http://www.borgarbyggd.is/pages/samstarfsyfirlysing-vinabaeja/|publisher=Borgarbyggð Municipality|accessdate=7 May 2012|language=Icelandic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217201318/http://www.borgarbyggd.is/pages/samstarfsyfirlysing-vinabaeja/|archive-date=17 February 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Ullensaker]], [[Norway]]<ref name="ystäväkuntalista"/>
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Dragsholm]], [[Denmark]]<ref name="ystäväkuntalista"/>
*{{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Falkenberg]], [[Sweden]]<ref name="ystäväkuntalista"/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Pihtipudas military cemetery.JPG|Pihtipudas Military Cemetery, Pihtipudas Church, Finland
File:Pihtipudas Church.JPG|Pihtipudas Church, Central Finland
File:Muurasjärven kirkko 01.jpg|Muurasjärvi Church, municipality of Pihtipudas, Finland
File:Heinäjoen silta 01.jpg|Heinäjoki Bridge and river, Pihtipudas, Finland
File:Pidtipudas Museum, Finland.png|Pihtipudas Museum, Finland
</gallery>

==See also==
* ''[[Eight Deadly Shots]]''
* [[List of massacres in Finland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Pihtipudas}}
*[https://pihtipudas.fi/ Municipality of Pihtipudas] – Official website {{In lang|fi}}

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Pihtipudas
 | N  = [[Haapajärvi]] ([[North Ostrobothnia]]), [[Pyhäjärvi]] ([[North Ostrobothnia]])
 | E  = [[Pielavesi]] ([[North Savo]])<br/>[[Keitele]] ([[North Savo]])
 | S  = [[Viitasaari]]
 | W  = [[Kinnula]]
 | NW = [[Reisjärvi]] ([[North Ostrobothnia]])
}}
{{CentralFinland}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pihtipudas| ]]