Västerbotten

Västerbotten is one of the historical provinces of Sweden. Västerbotten in northern Sweden and is bordered to the north Norrbotten, on the east by the Baltic Sea, to the south and to the west Ångermanland Lapland. Västerbotten is owned outright to manage province Västerbotten County.

Geography

Västerbotten is located on the Baltic coast, and thus participates in the coastal plain, which is about 10 to 20 kilometers wide. To the west, the land rises gradually to Skandenvorland to about 300 meters above sea level ( with individual elevations up to 500 meters ) to. Several rivers that originate in the Scandinavian mountain range, the province from northwest to southeast cross and empty into the Baltic Sea. The largest of the Ume is älv.

Despite its waterfront location Västerbotten has a continental influenced climate with large temperature differences between seasons (average July temperature is 15 ˚ C and in January at -6 ˚ C to -10 ° C) and low rainfall ( about 500 mm / year).

History

Historically, the landscape of Västerbotten in addition to its present extent also the area that ( since the mid / late 20th century ) is regarded as the separate landscape Norrbotten today, and ( before 1809 ) includes a small part of today's Finland. However, the following discussion refers primarily to the current dimensions of the landscape Västerbotten.

The first humans arrived about 9,000 years ago, according to Västerbotten, as the ice retreated the last ice age. The population lived mainly by hunting ( moose and small game ), on the coast of fishing and seal hunting. The importance of moose hunting is occupied by numerous findings. Reindeer husbandry can be occupied only during the Iron Age.

The first written records date from the 14th century. The borders between Russia and Sweden in northern Scandinavia were still unclear, but has been expanded, the Swedish rule in the coastal area in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, there were about 200 villages that lived from agriculture, hunting and fishing. In addition, driven by water power sawmills were built. Umeå was the largest city and commercial center for regional trade but were also the Church places with their markets of importance.

In the 18th and 19th century, the coastal areas in the wars with Russia were heavily affected. End of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, industrialization in Västerbotten peaked. In addition to the traditional wood-processing industry and the pulp and paper industry were the Erzfunde in cars in the 1920s of great importance for industrial development. In contrast, mainly agriculture and forestry since the Second World War have become less important.

Demography

In the county of Västerbotten is found about one-third of reported cases worldwide of Sjögren -Larsson syndrome.

Landscape symbols

• Animal: Curlew
• Flower: Charles scepter ( Pedicularis sceptrum - carolinum )
• Fish: Lamprey River
• Birds: Northern Harrier