Västmanland

Västmanland is one of 25 historic provinces ( landskap ) of Sweden in the country part of Svealand. It is located at the northwest end of Lake Mälaren. In the south, Västmanland borders Södermanland and Orebro, on the west by Värmland, Dalarna in the north and east to Uppland.

The largest city is Västerås, which is also the seat of the provincial government of today Västmanland County. More cities will be Sala, Köpings, Arboga and Fagersta. The most important industry is the electrical industry.

Geography

Västmanland is to the west and northwest mountainous but otherwise an undulating plains with a slight slope to the lake Mälaren. Between this lake and Lake Vänern is a ridge, which acts as a water divider. The highest elevations of the western region are about 450 m above sea level. NN. The surroundings of the mining communities Skinnskatteberg and Norberg is increased. From this region, smaller ridges move to the southeast, their sinks are filled with swamps. The ice sheets of the last ice age left behind in their retreat so-called rolling stone back ( rullstensåsar ), which are found in several places in Västmanland. The rivers flowed in that time, unlike today, mainly from northeast to southwest. Then in the Northwest began a stronger land uplift than in the eastern part of the landscape and water courses changed their direction. Large areas were extended period of time under the sea and are characterized today by the presence of valuable clay.

The bedrock Västmanland is rich in natural resources that were mined in numerous pits. In addition to metals, one finds marble and many other useful minerals.

History

Coat of arms

Description: silver three blue red firing mountains.

Landscape symbols

• Flower: Mistletoe (Latin: Viscum album )
• Animals: roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus)
• Bird: Crested Tit ( Lophophanes cristatus, Parus Syn christatus )
• Fish: walleye ( Sander lucioperca )