Vaasa

Vaasa [ vɑ sɑ ː ] (Swedish Vasa ) is a western Finnish port city on the Gulf of Bothnia. The ferry line begins to Umeå, which is the shortest boat connection between Finland and Sweden.

The Vaasa Airport is 9 kilometers south-east of the city center.

History

Vaasa in 1606 by the Swedish king, Charles IX. Wasa founded. In the 18th century the city experienced an unprecedented boom. It was not only the seat of the manorial court, but was also the first Finnish city a public library. However, in 1852 Vaasa, like many other Finnish cities afflicted at the time of a major fire. Among the few buildings spared included the High Court from the years 1780 to 1787, which was converted into a church in 1863.

The reestablishment took place seven kilometers to the west, as the old city had been cut off since 1606 by land uplift from the sea. Not since the building of the railway in 1883 the new port became much more important.

During the Finnish Civil War in 1918 Vaasa base of the White Brigade was under General Mannerheim. Until the re-conquest of Helsinki Vaasa served ten weeks as a seat of the exiled Senate and thus as de facto capital.

Coat of arms

Description: In red a golden Wasa sheaf. The escutcheon is placed a golden crown on gold and silver Akantusblättern. The Finnish Order of the Cross freedom hangs around the shield.

Language

Vaasa is an officially bilingual city in which 71 percent of the population are Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking 25 percent.

Universities

Vaasa has three universities. The largest with 5,200 students, the University of Vaasa. There will also be located in Vaasa, a branch of the Åbo Akademi University (Turku ) and the Swedish School of Economics.

Industry

The Wärtsilä Corporation (Finnish: Oy Wärtsilä ), a manufacturer of marine diesel engines, marine propellers and power plants, operated a plant in Vaasa.

Sports

In Vaasa Vaasa PS the two football clubs are located ( VPS) and Vasa IFK. IFK won in 1944, 1946 and 1953, the Finnish football championship, VPS 1945 and 1948. Division The Hockey Vaasan sport plays in the Mestis, the second highest league in Finland.

Attractions

Lutheran Church

Orthodox Church

Town hall

Lutheran Church of the Trinity, View from the Water Tower

Central Vaasa by night

Ehem. High Court in Old Vaasa ( Korsholm ), today Church

Population

Development of the population (as of each December 31 ):

  • 2000-56737
  • 2002-56925
  • 2003-57014
  • 2004-57030

Twinning

Vaasa is twinned with

  • Norway Harstad ( Norway), since 1949
  • Denmark Helsingor (Denmark), since 1949
  • Germany Kiel ( Germany ), since 1967
  • Germany Schwerin ( Germany ), since 1965
  • Estonia Pärnu (Estonia), since 1956
  • Šumperk Czech Republic (Czech Republic), since 1984
  • Sweden Umea (Sweden), since 1949

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Fanny Churberg (1845-1892), landscape painter
  • Mathilda Wrede (1864-1928), Swedish-Finnish aristocrat and benefactress
  • Aarne cleaning (1906-1974), Ringer
  • Aulikki Rautawaara (1906-1990), singer
  • Viljo Revell (1910-1964), architect
  • Risto Björlin (* 1944), Ringer
  • Leif Segerstam ( born 1944 ), composer and conductor
  • Gunilla Nyroos ( born 1945 ), Swedish-speaking actress
  • Monica Aspelund ( b. 1946 ), singer ( Pop )
  • Susanna Alakoski (* 1962), social worker, journalist and writer
  • Kai Hahto (born 1973 ), drummer and drum teacher
  • Mikaela Ingberg ( b. 1974 ), athlete
  • Heikki Kallio ( b. 1980 ), chess grandmaster
  • Håkan Nyblom ( born 1981 ), Danish Ringer
  • Maija Saari ( born 1986 ), football player
  • Oskar Osala (* 1987), ice hockey player
  • Kaisa Alanko (* 1993), volleyball player
Vaasa sub-region List of municipalities of Finland in which Finnish is not the sole official language Climograph Charles IX of Sweden Order of the Cross of Liberty Hanken School of Economics Appellate court Jakobstad Kaskinen Kronoby Larsmo Nykarleby
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