KUO meaning in Regional ?

Kuopio (, Finnish: [ˈkuo̯pio] (listen); Latin: Cuopio) is a Finnish city and municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia (Pohjois-Savo). It has a population of 120,248, which makes it the 8th most populous city in Finland and the most populous city in Eastern Finland Province. At the end of 2018, the population of the city center of Kuopio was 89,307. Kuopio has a total area of 4,326.35 square kilometres (1,670.41 sq mi), of which 719.85 km2 (277.94 sq mi) is water and half is forest. Though the city's population is a spread-out 75/km2 (190/sq mi), the city's urban areas are populated comparably densely (urban area: 1,618 /km²), making Kuopio Finland's second-most densely populated city. Along with the city of Joensuu, Kuopio is one of the major urban, economic, and cultural hubs of Eastern Finland.

Kuopio is known nationwide as one of the most important study cities and centers of attraction and growth, but on the other hand, the history of Kuopio has been characterized by several municipality mergers since 1969, as a result of which Kuopio now includes many countryside; Kuopio's population surpassed 100,000 when the town of Nilsiä joined the city at the beginning of 2013, and when Maaninka joined Kuopio at the beginning of 2015, Kuopio became Finland's largest milk producer community and Finland's second largest beef producer community. In addition, at the end of the 2010s, Kuopio was marked by numerous large projects, which are the largest in the city nationwide immediately after the Helsinki's metropolitan area. With the large tourist center in Tahkovuori, Kuopio has also grown into a major tourist city. Kuopio Airport, located in the Siilinjärvi municipality that almost surrounded by Kuopio, is Finland's fifth-busiest airport, with over 235,000 passengers in 2017.

According to Kuntarating 2017 survey, Kuopio has the most satisfied residents among the 20 largest cities, and according to the 2018 survey, Kuopio is the best city for real estate investors. In the Kuntien imago 2018 survey, Kuopio ranks second among large cities of Finland after Seinäjoki of South Ostrobothnia.

Kuopio is the current European Region of Gastronomy. It is also known as home of Kalakukko, a traditional food of Savonia, which is why Kuopio is also known by the nickname the "Promised Land of Kalakukko".