Lahdenpohja literally means "bay's bottom". It has been a marketplace since the 17th century, located on an old trade route going as far as Oulu. It was mentioned in 1638 as Lahen Pohia, reflecting the local pronunciation of lahden (genitive case form of lahti, bay) as lahen. It was a part of the Jaakkima parish until 1924, when Lahdenpohja was separated from it as a kauppala. The locals also called it Lopotti, a Russian loanword (see sloboda) referring to a built-up area smaller than a town.[10] Lahdenpohja was ceded to the Soviet Union after the Winter and Continuation Wars. Lakhdenpokhya is simply an alternate romanization of Лахденпохья, the Russian transcription of the Finnish name.
In the early 1990s, two granite blocks of a monument to local Finnish soldiers who died in 1918 were returned to the ruins of the church, and a memorial cross was erected. With Finland's participation, the conservation of the walls of the Lutheran church was carried out.[11]
In 1995, the Orthodox Chapel of St. George the Victorious was erected in the town.
In 2020, Ramiz Mubarizovich Kazymov, mayor of Lakhdenpokhya and a member of the United Russia party,[12] was deprived of his driver's license for drunk driving.[13]
The city—forming enterprise — Lahdenpokhsky plywood mill «Bumex»[14] - was organized in the 1950s on the basis of the former Finnish plywood factory — the joint-stock division of Laatokan Puu Oy of «Ladoga Timber Ab».[15]
There is a forestry enterprise, a forestry station, and a bakery. In 2003, the «Aalto» distillery was launched.[16]
By Order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 2014.07.29 No. 1398-r (as amended on 2015.11.24) «On approval of the list of monotowns», the city is included in the list of monotowns of the Russian Federation that have risks of deterioration of the socio-economic situation.[17]
In 2023, the city took the second place in the ranking of places in Russia for recreation at the bases according to the booking service «TVIL».[18]
Законодательное Собрание Республики Карелия. Закон №871-ЗРК от 29 апреля 2005 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Республики Карелия», в ред. Закона №1895-ЗРK от 2 июня 2015 г. «О внесении изменения статью 9 Закона Республики Карелия "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Республики Карелия"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: газета "Карелия", №48, 7 мая 2005 г. (Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia. Law #871-ZRK of April 29, 2005 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Republic of Karelia, as amended by the Law #1895-ZRK of June 2, 2015 On Amending Article 9 of the Law of the Republic of Karelia "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of the Republic of Karelia". Effective as of the official publication date.).
Законодательное Собрание Республики Карелия. Закон №813-ЗРК от 1 ноября 2004 г. «О городских, сельских поселениях в Республике Карелия», в ред. Закона №1694-ЗРK от 2 апреля 2013 г. «О преобразовании муниципальных образований『Нюхчинское сельское поселение』и『Сумпосадское сельское поселение』Беломорского муниципального района и внесении изменений в некоторые законодательные акты Республики Карелия». Вступил в силу по истечении десяти дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: газета "Карелия", №124, 126, 129, 132, 135, 136, 139, 4 ноября — 9 декабря 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia. Law #813-ZRK of November 1, 2004 On the Urban, Rural Settlements in the Republic of Karelia, as amended by the Law #1694-ZRK of April 2, 2013 On the Transformation of the Municipal Formations of "Nyukhchinskoye Rural Settlement" and "Sumposadskoye Rural Settlement" of Belomorsky Municipal District of the Republic of Karelia and on Amending Various Legislative Acts of the Republic of Karelia. Effective as of the day which is ten days after the day of the official publication.).
Законодательное Собрание Республики Карелия. Закон №825-ЗРК от 1 декабря 2004 г. «О муниципальных районах в Республике Карелия», в ред. Закона №1694-ЗРK от 2 апреля 2013 г. «О преобразовании муниципальных образований『Нюхчинское сельское поселение』и『Сумпосадское сельское поселение』Беломорского муниципального района и внесении изменений в некоторые законодательные акты Республики Карелия». Вступил в силу по истечении десяти дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: газета "Карелия", №141, 16 декабря 2004 г. (Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia. Law #825-ZRK of December 1, 2004 On the Municipal Districts in the Republic of Karelia, as amended by the Law #1694-ZRK of April 2, 2013 On the Transformation of the Municipal Formations of "Nyukhchinskoye Rural Settlement" and "Sumposadskoye Rural Settlement" of Belomorsky Municipal District of the Republic of Karelia and on Amending Various Legislative Acts of the Republic of Karelia. Effective as of the day which is ten days after the day of the official publication.).
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