Kymenlaakso (; "Kymi/Kymmene Valley") is a region in Finland. It borders the regions of Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme, South Savo and South Karelia and Russia (Leningrad Oblast). Its name means literally The Valley of River Kymi. Kymijoki is one of the biggest rivers in Finland with a drainage basin with 11% of the area of Finland. The city of Kotka with 51,000 inhabitants is located at the delta of River Kymi and has the most important import harbour in Finland. Other cities are Kouvola further in the inland which has after a municipal merger 81,000 inhabitants and the old bastion town Hamina. Kymenlaakso was one of the first industrialized regions of Finland. It became the most important region for paper and pulp industry in Finland. Since the late 1900s many plants have closed, which has caused some deindustrialization, unemployment and population decline in Kymenlaakso, especially in those communes that were built around plants such as Myllykoski in Kouvola. Historical provinces For history, geography and culture see: Uusimaa, Karelia and Tavastia Municipalities The region of Kymenlaakso is made up of six municipalities, of which three have city status (marked in bold). Kotka-Hamina Sub-region: Kotka Population: Hamina (Fredrikshamn) Population: Pyhtää (Pyttis) Population: Virolahti (Vederlax) Population: Miehikkälä Population: Kouvola Sub-region: Kouvola Population: Former municipalities: Kuusankoski Elimäki Anjala Haapasaari Kymi Karhula Anjalankoski Valkeala Jaala Vehkalahti Politics Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in Kymenlaakso: Social Democratic Party 24.73% Finns Party 20.93% National Coalition Party 18.21% Centre Party 11.64% Green League 8.64% Left Alliance 6.34% Christian Democrats 4.85% Movement Now 1.83% Blue Reform 1.68% Seven Star Movement 0.33% Other parties 0.82% References External links Regional Council of Kymenlaakso Southern Finland Province Regions of Finland