Ångermanland
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Ångermanland , is a historical province or landskap in the north of Sweden. It borders to Medelpad, Jämtland, Lapland, Västerbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia. The name "Ångermanland" comes from the Old Norse "anger", which means "deep fjord" and refers to the deep mouth of the river Ångermanälven. "Ångermanland" is "Angermannia" in Latin.
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[edit] Administration
The traditional provinces of Sweden serve no administrative or political purposes, but are cultural and historical entities. The province of Ångermanland is divided between Västernorrland County, which comprises the heartland with minor parts in Västerbotten County and Jämtland County.
[edit] Heraldry
The arms is represented showing a dukal coronet. Blazon: "Azure three Salmons nainaint Argent finned Gules, the middle one counternainaint." It is almost identical to the coat of arms of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
[edit] Geography
Ångermanland is the sixth largest of Sweden's provinces with an area of roughly 19,500 km², about the size of Wales. A round 1,000 km² consists of water.
The western part of Ångermanland is characterized by the flow of the Ångerman River. Although the soil of Ångermanland is generally too barren for cultivation, areas around the rivers and the Ångerman River in particular are is covered with fields.
The coastal line is archipelago-like with a belt of bays, in which the Ångerman River also has its mouth. It is in general regarded as a pictureque nature, particularly in the thickly foliaged Ådalen region around the Ångerman River. The landscape is of a varied sort with valleys, rocks and bogs.
The largest town today is Örnsköldsvik, by the coast. It has ca 25,000 inhabitants in the town proper. It is followed by Härnösand with 18,000.
[edit] Facts
- Highest mountain: Bunkfjället 740 meters
- Largest lake: Tåsjön
- National parks: Skuleskogen
The coast line on the Gulf of Bothnia, called the Höga Kusten, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The land still rises at the rate of about one centimetre per year, as an effect of the last ice age that ended in the 7th millennium BC.
[edit] Population
The population of Ångermanland is 140,188 as of 2004. It distributes over three counties as follows:
| County | Population |
|---|---|
| part of Västernorrland County | 122,047 |
| part of Västerbotten County | 14,541 |
| part of Jämtland County | 3,600 |
[edit] History
In 1721 Härnösand was burned to the ground by the Russian navy.
Ångermanland was historically divided into chartered cities and districts.
[edit] Cities
- Härnösand (1585)
- Kramfors (1947)
- Sollefteå (1917)
- Örnsköldsvik (1893)
[edit] Districts
[edit] References
- article Ångermanland from Nordisk familjebok. In Swedish.
[edit] External links
- Mid Sweden - Official tourist site for Ångermanland & Medelpad
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