Saltvik
Municipality
Saltviks kommun
Saltvik Church
Saltvik Church
Coat of arms of Saltvik
Coat of arms
Location of Saltvik in Finland
Location of Saltvik in Finland
Saltvik is located in Åland
Saltvik
Saltvik
Location in Åland
Coordinates: 60°16.5′N 020°03.5′E / 60.2750°N 20.0583°E / 60.2750; 20.0583
Country Finland
RegionÅland
Sub-regionÅland Countryside sub-region
Government
 • Municipal managerEwa Danielsson
Area
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total1,166.54 km2 (450.40 sq mi)
 • Land152.25 km2 (58.78 sq mi)
 • Water1,014.63 km2 (391.75 sq mi)
 • Rank275th largest in Finland
Population
 (2023-09-30)[2]
 • Total1,801
 • Rank268th largest in Finland
 • Density11.83/km2 (30.6/sq mi)
Population by native language
[3]
 • Swedish90.3% (official)
 • Finnish3.8%
 • Others5.9%
Population by age
[4]
 • 0 to 1416.4%
 • 15 to 6457.9%
 • 65 or older25.7%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.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.

History

The municipality has a rich history. When Åland emerged from the sea about 8,000 BC, 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, people can 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 13th century, but various reconstructions have been made from the 14th century 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.

A former Finnish government lands official claims a 17,800-square-meter (0.004 acre) plot on the island of Saltvik "had been handed over to Russia's Foreign Ministry in 2009, in accordance with a 1947 post-war peace treaty that saw German holdings in Finland transferred to the Soviet Union".[5][6]

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.

Points of interest

  • Orrdalsklint, the highest point on Åland Islands
  • Saltvik Church, Medieval church built in the 1370s

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Preliminary population statistics 2023, September". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Demographic Structure by area as of 31 December 2022". Statistics Finland's PX-Web databases. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Vladimir Putin's secret 'Swedish' beach plot". The Local. No. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Finnish Official Reveals Putin as 'Secret' Owner of Swedish-Speaking Island". The Moscow Times. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.

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