Velkua

Velkua [ vɛlkuɑ ] is a former municipality in the archipelago off the coast of Southwest Finland. It was amalgamated into the city of Naantali 2009.

The former municipality of Velkua some 300 islets and cliffs. Inhabited year-round are the islands Kalsaari, Lailuoto, Munnimaa, Palva, Salavainen, Talosmeri, Teersalo and Velkuanmaa. The main town is called Velkuas Teersalo and is located around 20 kilometers as the crow flies west of Naantali. Other villages in the territory of the former municipality are Haukka, Kalsor, Kettumaa, Krööpilä, Palva, Pohjakylä, Salavainen, and Tiurla. Excluding the marine areas the community Velkua had an area of ​​31.99 km ². With last 264 inhabitants Velkua belonged to the time of its municipal independence of the smallest Finnish municipalities.

The area of Velkua originally belonged to the parish Taivassalo. 1793, the St. Henry consecrated wooden church of Velkua was completed and Velkua received the status of a chapel community. In the Third Russian - Swedish war in 1808 it came to a battle before Velkua. This Russian troops landed on Velkua and plundered the church. As part of the separation of the management of the rural communities of the Church administration was 1863, the municipality Velkua. The beginning of 2009 Velkua was incorporated along with Rymättylä and Merimasku in the location on the mainland city of Naantali.