Oulu is a major port city located on the north-western coast of Finland at the mouth of the River Oulu. It serves as the regional capital of North Ostrobothnia and is the most populous city in Northern Finland.
The city has a population of approximately 217,000 people, making it the fifth most populous municipality in Finland and the fourth most populous urban area in the country. The surrounding sub-region has a total population of approximately 265,000.