Ångermanland

Ångermanland (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈɔ̂ŋːɛrmanˌland] or [ˈɔ̌ŋːɛrmanland] (listen))[2] is a historical province (landskap) in the northern part of Sweden. It is bordered (clockwise from the north) by Swedish Lapland, Västerbotten, the Gulf of Bothnia, Medelpad and Jämtland.

Ångermanland
Coat of arms
CountrySweden
LandNorrland
CountiesVästernorrland County
Jämtland County
Västerbotten County
Area
 • Total19,507 km2 (7,532 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2019)[1]
 • Total130 923
Ethnicity
 • LanguageSwedish (North Swedish)
Culture
 • FlowerHeartsease
 • AnimalBeaver
 • Bird—
 • FishLavaret
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

The name is derived from the Old Norse anger, which means "deep fjord" and is a reference to the deep mouth of the Ångerman River (Ångermanälven). In earlier times the province was known, in medieval Latin, as Angermannia.

Administration

The traditional provinces of Sweden, while remaining culturally and historically important, no longer serve as administrative or political entities. The heartlands of Ångermanland lie in today's Västernorrland County, with the remainder of the traditional province now forming part of Västerbotten and Jämtland Counties.

Heraldry

The heraldic description of the arms of Ångermanland is: Azure three Salmons naiant Argent finned Gules, the middle one counternaiant, which heraldic meaning is that the rivers have spawning grounds for salmon, i.e. two fish to the sea for each one up the river. The burgh of Peebles in Scotland also has a very similar coat of arms, with similar heraldic context but with a red background. The Ångermanland arms differ from those of Laholm in Halland County and of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in England, where salmon fishing and processing have been historically important, each of which have their three salmon naient.

Geography

Ångermanland is the sixth largest of Sweden's provinces with an area of some 19,800 km², of which around 1,000 km² is water.

The nature of the western part of Ångermanland is greatly influenced by the presence of the Ångerman River. Although the province's soils are in general too barren for cultivation, there is arable farming in the areas adjoining the rivers – the Ångerman River in particular.

The coast of Ångermanland is mountainous and features an extensive archipelago with many steep islands, deep bays and fjords – among them the mouth of the Ångerman River. The landscape is generally accounted picturesque, particularly in the thickly wooded Ådalen region around the Ångerman River. The landscape is varied, with valleys, rocks, and bogs.

The largest town today is Örnsköldsvik, on the coast, with around 33,000 inhabitants. It is followed by Härnösand with 18,000.

Facts
  • Highest mountain: Bunkfjället (740 m, 2428 ft)
  • 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.

Population

The population of Ångermanland is 130 923 as of December 31, 2019. It is distributed over three counties as follows:[3][1]

CountyPopulation
Part of Västernorrland County118 603
Part of Västerbotten County9 551
Part of Jämtland County2 769

History

Ångermanland is mentioned the first time in Historia Norwegie as "Angariuam", in 1170. It is thought to have been christened in the 12th century, as several runestones were erected in the 11th century. The Vitalie pirate brothers sieged the Styresholm fortress in 1398, holding the whole coast of Norrland. The Styresholm fort was however demolished in 1434 by the locals during the Engelbrekt Uprising. In 1490, districts Ångermanland, Alir, Sunded, Nordanstig and Medelpad constituted Storhälsingland. Härnösand receives city status in 1585. In 1721 Härnösand was burned to the ground by the Russian navy.

In 1931 four demonstrators and one bypassing were shot to death in the Ådalen shootings. It resulted in the forming of the state police, stripping the military of policiary work. Lower Norrland received its first university in 2005 when the Mitthögskolan transformed into the Mid Sweden University (Mittuniversitetet). The university has its courses spread over four cities; Härnösand, Sundsvall, Örnsköldsvik and Östersund.

Historical administration

Ångermanland was historically divided into chartered cities and districts.

Cities

Districts

Sports

Football in the province is administered by Ångermanlands Fotbollförbund. Ice hockey is also popular, with Modo Hockey.

References
  1. "Folkmängd i landskapen den 31 december 2019". Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. "Ångermanland". Svenska Akademiens ordlista (in Swedish). Swedish Academy. 2015. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2019 – via svenska.se.
  3. "Folkmängd i landskapen den 31 december 2019". SCB (Statistikmyndigheten). March 19, 2020. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  • Mid Sweden - Official tourist site for Ångermanland & Medelpad (in Swedish)

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