Haapavesi is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the North Ostrobothnia region. The name means "Aspen Water". The town has a population of () and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is . Neighbour municipalities are Haapajärvi, Kärsämäki, Nivala, Oulainen, Raahe, Siikalatva and Ylivieska. The municipality is unilingually Finnish. The town is the Finnish national kantele village. It is also known for the Haapavesi Folk Music Festival which gathers folkmusicians together. At Haapavesi, there is a tall guyed TV mast, which belongs to Finland's tallest man-made structures. Haapavesi Folk High School The Haapavesi Folk High School () is an ideologically independent boarding school. Haapavesi Folk High School is one of the eleven folk high schools cooperating in the HUMAK University of Applied Sciences. HUMAK offers education and training in the fields of Civic and youth work, Cultural management and production as well as Sign language interpreter. In Haapavesi Unit of HUMAK the focus is on civic and youth work. Notable individuals Aappo Luomajoki, cross-country skier Aapo Heikkilä, investor Aarne Ehojoki, architect Ahti Pekkala, politician Aki Kangasharju, Nordea's chief economist Antti Rantonen, traditional kantele musician, father of mixed playing style Ari Nurkkala, Mayor of Hyrynsalmi Arvo Ojalehto, weightlifter Edvard Vähäsarja, Jäger lieutenant Eeva Tojkander, poet Fanny Friman, poet Hannu Karjalainen, artist Hans Perttula, minister Juha Junno, ice hockey coach Juho Ritola, skier K.E. Sonck, translator, schoolteacher and writer Leevi Karsikas, writer Liisa Rentola, teacher and writer (lived in Haapavesi) Marko Ritola, sprinter Martti Pokela, folk musician and composer Matti Koskenkorva, cross-country skier Matti Luttinen, politician Matti Viinamaa, poet Nora Pöyhönen, horticulturist and school director Pasi Jääskeläinen, playwright, actor, singer and Kantele-player Pauliina Turakka Purhonen, artist Sami Niku, ice hockey player Sauli Rytky, cross-country skier Taavi Törmälehto, Mannerheim Cross knight Tapani Niku, cross-country skier Tuukka Veikkola, musician alias "Xtrullor" Teuvo Hatunen, skier Teuvo Karsikas, schoolteacher and writer Ville Mattila, cross-country skier and Olympic medalist Väinö Karihtala, writer Yrjö Komu, politician and Member of Parliament References External links Town of Haapavesi – Official website Haapavesi Folk Music Festival Cities and towns in Finland Populated places established in 1866 1866 establishments in the Russian Empire