title: Kuortane
text: # Kuortane
  
  Kuortane is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the South Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of 3,418 (28 February 2023) and covers an area of 484.88 square kilometres (187.21 sq mi) of which 22.72 $km^2$ (8.77 sq mi) is water. The population density is 7.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (19/sq mi). The neighboring municipalities of Kuortane are Alajärvi, Alavus, Lapua and Seinäjoki. The municipality is unilingually Finnish.
  
  Kuortane has a notable history of pine tar production. It is currently well known for the Kuortaneen urheilulukio, a sports institute (Olympic Training centre) and training facility where many young Finnish athletes study and train. Both the women's national under-18 ice hockey team and Team Kuortane of the Naisten Liiga are based at the institute. Kuortane is also known as the birthplace of world-famous architect Alvar Aalto.
  
  ## Notable people
  
  * Alvar Aalto (1898–1976), architect and designer
  * Osmo Ala-Honkola (1939–2020), Olympic sport shooter
  * Reino Ala-Kulju (1898–1983), Lutheran clergyman, politician, and teacher
  * Mira Suhonen (born 1985), Olympic sport shooter
  