Vaasa is the Ostrobothnia´s window to the west. The town is the spiritual heat of Ostrobothnia, open to all. As it has good connections with the outside world, international wins of change reach the town quickly. Vaasa is the capital of the province of that name . It has 55.000 inhabitants, 72% Finnish-speaking and 27% Swidish-speaking.
Vaasa is located at the narrowest point of the Gulf of Bothnia, only 80km/50miles from Sweden. By boat the journey to Umeå takes four hours.
Area of Vaasa amounts 397 sq. km of which 214 is maritime.
The town`s leafy avenues, the large parks that surround the pubilc buildings, and the green shoreline, go to make up a restful whole which has as its foundation the Empire-style town plan drawn up by the architect Carl Axel Setterberg in 1855.
What I liked in Vaasa was the meeting of the past and the present. You can meet distinctive cultural life, international life, two languages, local enterprise, international industry and the tranquillity, beautiful shores and a great healthy environment. That´s all in this small city. I will say the healthy environment is a part of Vaasa. The beautiful sea with its countless islands gives Vaasa the authentic feel of a coastal town!!! Boating, fishing, exploring the archipelago and exercising along the beautiful shore, are all popular with the townspeople. The warmth of the town´s welcome is felt everywhere, in its bustling market, in its business life, in its friendly service. And the most important thing: as Vaasa is Finland´s sunniest town, it is very windy but the sun is often shining too!!!
And what about the climate? The annual mean temperature +4.9 C, warmest in July, average 16.5 C and coldest in January, average -8.0 C. Usually windy and sunny because of the coastal location.
In my opinion the surrounding countryside offers another kind of landscape, a culture rooted in the soil, fields stretching across inland plains , close village communities and centres as well as the characteristic life of the archipelago. The marks of ancient settlement - museums, churches, fishing harbours and riverbank life - from an integral part of Vaasa´s hinterland.
A few words about the labour force and the jobs in industry:
Services 42.8 %
Manufacturing 26.0 %
Commerce 13.9 %
Transport 8.0 %
Construction 6.4 %
Agriculture and forestry 1.2 %
If you will get the most important information about Vaasa - the Finland´s Suncity go to the next pages!!!
Vaasa´s Cooperation across Frontiers