Oulu

Industrial port (sawmills, tanneries, shipyards) in western Finland, on the Gulf of Bothnia; population (2002) 157,600. It was originally a Swedish fortress 1375.

Oulu

Northern province of Finland; area 56,706 sq km/21,894 sq mi; population (1996) 452,900. It consists of the Laponia plateau (300–360 m/984 ft–1,181 ft), the fertile lowlands of Ostrobothnia on the Gulf of Bothnia, and the plateaux of Suomenselkä and Kajaani (450–500 m/1,476 ft–1,640 ft). Rivers include Iijoki and Oulujoki, the latter flowing from Lake Oulu to the town of Oulu on the coast. The main industry is forestry.