Eastern Finland Province

Eastern Finland (Itä-Suomen lääni, Östra Finlands län) was a province of Finland from 1997 to 2009. It bordered the provinces of Oulu, Western Finland and Southern Finland. It also bordered Russia to the east.

History
On September 1, 1997, the Mikkeli Province, the Kuopio Province and Northern Karelia Province were joined to form the new Eastern Finland Province.

All the provinces of Finland were abolished on January 1, 2010.

Administration
The State Provincial Office was a joint regional authority of seven different ministries. It promoted national and regional objectives of the State central administration. Eastern Finland State Provincial Office had branch offices in Mikkeli, Joensuu, and Kuopio.

Regions
Eastern Finland was divided into three regions:
 * North Karelia (Pohjois-Karjala / Norra Karelen)
 * Northern Savonia (Pohjois-Savo / Norra Savolax)
 * Southern Savonia (Etelä-Savo / Södra Savolax)

Municipalities in 2009 (cities in bold)
Eastern Finland was divided into 54 municipalities in 2009.


 * Enonkoski
 * Heinävesi
 * Hirvensalmi
 * Iisalmi
 * Ilomantsi
 * Joensuu
 * Joroinen
 * Juankoski
 * Juuka
 * Juva
 * Kaavi
 * Kangasniemi
 * Karttula
 * Keitele
 * Kerimäki
 * Kesälahti
 * Kitee
 * Kiuruvesi
 * Kontiolahti
 * Kuopio
 * Lapinlahti
 * Leppävirta
 * Lieksa
 * Liperi
 * Maaninka
 * Mikkeli
 * Mäntyharju
 * Nilsiä
 * Nurmes
 * Outokumpu
 * Pertunmaa
 * Pieksämäki
 * Pielavesi
 * Polvijärvi
 * Punkaharju
 * Puumala
 * Rantasalmi
 * Rautalampi
 * Rautavaara
 * Ristiina
 * Rääkkylä
 * Savonlinna
 * Siilinjärvi
 * Sonkajärvi
 * Sulkava
 * Suonenjoki
 * Tervo
 * Tohmajärvi
 * Tuusniemi
 * Valtimo
 * Varkaus
 * Varpaisjärvi
 * Vesanto
 * Vieremä

Former municipalities (disestablished before 2009)

 * Anttola
 * Eno
 * Haukivuori
 * Jäppilä
 * Kangaslampi
 * Kiihtelysvaara
 * Mikkelin mlk
 * Pieksämäen mlk
 * Pieksänmaa
 * Pyhäselkä
 * Savonranta
 * Tuupovaara
 * Vehmersalmi
 * Virtasalmi
 * Värtsilä

Governors

 * Pirjo Ala-Kapee 1997–2009

Heraldry
The coat of arms of Eastern Finland was composed of the arms of Savonia and Karelia.