Stockholm
Stockholm is the
capital and the largest
City of
Sweden. The City of Stockholm is administratively a
Municipality within
Stockholm County, with an city population of 761,721 (2004), and with 1,695,946 (2004) including the suburbs (Stockholm County except
Norrtälje,
Nykvarn,
Nynäshamn and
Södertälje). The metropolitan area is known as
Stor-Stockholm. The conurbation of Stockholm, a stastistical unit stretching trough several municipalities, had an population of 1,212,196 according to the 2000 census.
As a capital Stockholm is the site of the
Government and the
Parliament of Sweden. It is also the residence of the
head of state, King
Carl XVI Gustaf.
History
\nMain article: History of Stockholm
The earliest mention of Stockholm in writing dates from 1252, when it was an important post in the iron trade from the mines in Bergslagen. The city is said to have been founded by Birger Jarl in order to protect Sweden from invasion from the sea by foreign navies and to stop pillage of the cities such as Sigtuna on Lake Mälaren. The first building at Stockholm was a fortification for the purpose of controlling the traffic between the Baltic Sea and Mälaren.
Politics
\nMain article: Politics of Stockholm
The city is subdivided into 18 boroughs, which carry responsibility for primary school, social, leisure and cultural services within their respective areas.
| \n*Bromma\n*Enskede-Årsta\n*Farsta\n*Hägersten\n*Hässelby-Vällingby\n*Katarina-Sofia\n | \n*Kista\n*Kungsholmen\n*Liljeholmen\n*Maria-Gamla stan\n*Norrmalm\n*Rinkeby\n | \n*Skarpnäck\n*Skärholmen\n*Spånga-Tensta\n*Vantör\n*Älvsjö\n*Östermalm\n |
, in the middle
Helgeandsholmen, with the
Parliament building, above left
Riddarholmen with
Riddarholmskyrkan and above right Kungsholmen with the
City Hall.]]
Geography
\nMain article: Geography of Stockholm
The city is situated on fourteen islands and on the banks of the archipelago where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. The city center is virually situated on the
water. Coordinates: 59°21'N, 18°4'E.
Economy
\nMain article: Economy of Stockholm
Universities
\nMain article: Universities in Sweden
Stockholm might be most well known for the Nobel Prizes and the prize ceremony held each year, but the city also houses the largest concentration of universities with research and higher education in Sweden.
Heraldry
\nMain article: Heraldry of Stockholm
Culture
\nMain article: Culture of Stockholm
Apart from being a large city with an active cultural life Stockholm as a capital also houses many of the national cultural institutions of Sweden, including theater, opera and museums. There are two UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Stockholm area: the castle of
Drottningholm and the cemetery Skogskyrkogården.
Sites of interest
\nMain article: Tourism in Stockholm
Sports teams
\nSporting events are popular, with football and
ice hockey being the most popular
sports. The city hosted the
1912 Summer Olympics.
Notable natives
\n*Alfred Nobel\n*
List of Swedish monarchs\n*
List of Swedes
Miscellaneous topics
\nPronunciation: Stockholm (/stok'hôlm/, SAMPA: [stQk"hOlm])
See also
\n*Stockholm Metro\n*
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport\n*
Largest European cities\n*
Ports of the Baltic Sea
External links
\n*Stockholm - Official site\n*
Stockholm Visitors Board - The official visitors' guide\n*
Stockholm Map in Swedish
Category:Sweden\nCategory:Swedish cities\nCategory:Stockholm County\nCategory:capitals
\n simple:Stockholm
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