Saltvik

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Saltvik
—  Municipality  —
Saltviks kommun

Coat of arms
Location of Saltvik in Finland
Saltvik is located in Åland
Saltvik
Location in Åland
Coordinates: 60°16.5′N 020°03.5′E / 60.275°N 20.0583°E / 60.275; 20.0583Coordinates: 60°16.5′N 020°03.5′E / 60.275°N 20.0583°E / 60.275; 20.0583
Country Finland
Region Åland
Sub-region Åland Countryside sub-region
Government
 • Municipal manager Ben-Erik Alm
Area(2011-01-01)[1]
 • Total 1,166.70 km2 (450.47 sq mi)
 • Land 152.07 km2 (58.71 sq mi)
 • Water 1,014.63 km2 (391.75 sq mi)
Area rank 96th largest in Finland
Population (2012-01-31)[2]
 • Total 1,808
 • Rank 301st largest in Finland
 • Density 11.89/km2 (30.8/sq mi)
Population by native language[3]
 • Swedish 94% (official)
 • Finnish 3.9%
 • Others 2.1%
Population by age[4]
 • 0 to 14 17.2%
 • 15 to 64 64.3%
 • 65 or older 18.5%
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Municipal tax rate[5] 16.25%
Website www.saltvik.ax

Saltvik is a municipality of Åland, an autonomous territory of Finland. The total area is 1 161,8 km², of which 150,7 km² is land, 4,7 km² lakes and 1006,4 km² sea.

The archipelago north of Saltvik is perhaps the most beautiful one in Åland. Closest to land are the big islands Boxö, Sommarö, Flatö and Ryssö. Beyond, the horizon opens up and after passing Saggö it is more or less unbroken.

Contents

[edit] History

The municipality has a rich history. When Åland emerged from the sea about 10 000 years ago, Saltvik was the first land to be seen. During the Viking ages, Kvarnbo used to be a central crown court- and place of merchandise. Today you may visit the medieval church and at the court place see the memorial monument.

The church St:a Maria is located by Kvarnboviken in the east of Saltvik. The red granite church is one of the oldest in Åland, and was once the main church in the province. The church has been rebuilt and extended several times. The oldest parts are from the late 1200’s, but various reconstructions have been made from the 1300’s until today. For example, the chalk drawings on the walls have first been painted, then covered and then uncovered again. Around and under the church, there are traces of houses from Viking Age. This is not so strange, considering the church is located in the middle of the biggest grave field from Iron Age in Åland.

[edit] Business

About 50% of the people living in Saltvik work in the service industry or in the public sector. 15% work in transport and 14% in industry. Construction and farming/fishing employ, respectively, 10 and 7%.

The head office and one factory of the Chips Group is located in the municipality. The company begun its operations in Saltvik in 1969 and was the first potato chip producer in Finland. Through acquisitions, new establishments and growth, the group has grown and is today the market leader within snacks in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The best-known brands are Taffel, OLW, KiMs and Oolannin. In 2005, the Norwegian industrial group Orkla ASA acquired all the shares in the Chips Group.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Media related to Saltvik at Wikimedia Commons

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