maakunta

Noun

 * 1) county, province, region administrative or historical region widely varying in size and significance but always a subdivision of a state and consisting of a number of municipalities
 * °N, °W
 * 1)  province(s)

Usage notes
In the current administrative model Finland is divided into 19, which are translated as "region" in English. Legally they are not subdivisions of the state government but associations of the municipalities of the region, called. The tasks of regional councils deal with regional zoning and promotion of the regional economy. They are governed by the municipalities, which elect to decide the strategic issues and to nominate. Note that same English term "regional council" is used of both the association and the council that governs it. The executive director of the office of the regional council is called. The state government in regions is organized through seven and fifteen, each of them covering one or more regions.