Länsi-Suomi - Geography and history
Länsi-Suomi is situated at the southwest of the country. It is bounded by Pohjois-Suomi to the north, Itä-Suomi to the east and Etelä-Suomi to the south. It is composed of several regions: Pohjanmaa (Ostrobothnia), Etelä-Pohjanmaa (South Ostrobothnia), Satakunta, Pirkanmaa and Keski-Suomi (Central Finland). The region has a total area of 58 276 km2, covering 19% of the country. Both Finnish and Swedish languages are spoken in the region. Tampere is the third biggest city of the country, with about 200 000 inhabitants at the first of January 2003.
A quite unique landscape
The region is a multifaceted combination of sea, coastline, flat country, forests, wilderness and lakes. The waters are characteristic of the landscape. The coast and archipelago comprising more than 10,000 islands offer ample opportunities for recreation.
The shallow and fragmented west coast with its rocky shoals is unique in Finland. The rhythmic alternation of rivers and flat valleys is typical of the Pohjanmaa coast. The valleys are farmed or forested. The fertile river plains in Etelä-Pohjamaa are especially flat. The barns bordering the cultivated fields and the strings of riverside villages with their imposing two-storey wooden buildings are the most striking features of the cultural landscape. Farther north the ground becomes swampy and poor in nutrients. The most thinly-forested areas and most extensive mires lie in Suomenselkä between fertile Pohjanmaa and the Keski-Suomi lake district.
The landscape is dominated by clearwater lake basins, waterways and hills. The northern part of Finland's third biggest lake, Päijänne, with its long and narrow steep-walled bays is a dominant feature of the scenery. Keski-Suomi Finland is the most thickly forested area in the mid-Finland region, and one of the most densely forested areas in the whole country. The forests consist mainly of spruce or dry pine.
Due to the sea, the climate on the coast is relatively mild. Inland, it is more continental with a greater seasonal variation producing warmer summers and colder, more snowy winters.
In Keski-Suomi there are several downhill skiing centres, spas and golf courses, three national parks complete with primal forest, riding stables, high class holiday cottages and farm holiday locations as well as Europe's largest area of inland watercourses for fishing, hiking and paddling.
At the first of January 2003, the region had a density of 22.7 inhabitants per km2, which is higher than the national average of 17.1 inhabitants per km2.
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