Ostrobothnia (historical province)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ostrobothnia, In Swedish Österbotten (literally "East (of) Bottom / the Gulf of Bothnia") or Pohjanmaa in Finnish (literally "Bottom land / soil / ground"), is a historical province to the north in Finland. It borders on Karelia, Savonia, Tavastia and Satakunda in the south, and on Västerbotten in Sweden, and Laponia in the north. It is also bounded by Russia in the east and the Gulf of Bothnia in the west.

**Österbotten**
**Pohjanmaa**

Land	Norrland
Provinces	Western Finland Oulu Lapland
Regions	Northern Ostrobothnia Central Ostrobothnia Ostrobothnia Southern Ostrobothnia Lapland Kainuu
Area	- km²

Map highlighting the location of Ostrobothnia

[edit] Government

For current affairs see: Western Finland, Uleåborg and Lapland

In modern Finland, the area of Ostrobothnia is divided between the administrative provinces of Western Finland, Oulu, and Lapland.

[edit] History

Main article: History of Ostrobothnia

The earliest human presence in Ostrobothnia is represented by the 120.000 year old settlement near Kristinestad, possibly representing the only evidence on pre-ice age presence of neanderthal men in Fenno-Scandinavia. Modern humans arrived 9000 years ago, as soon as the ice sheet disappeared and enough land had risen above sea level. A complex hunter gatherer society emerged along the coast. During the Bronze and Iron Ages an agrarian economy society eventually replaced earlier structures in southern Ostrobothnia, whereas traditional economies survived much longer in the northern and inland locations. During the early Middle Ages settlers from Sweden inhabited Ostrobothnia, eventually forming administrative units under Swedish rule. The Swedish crown established Korsholm as the administrative centre. At the same time, large parts of the inland Ostrobothnia and were colonized by Finnish settlers from Savo. In the 16th century, the Finnish settlement and agriculture had reached the northern part of the east coast of Gulf of Bothnia (north of Kalajoki). The first towns were established in the 17th century, obtaining soon prominence through the import of pine tar which was essential for the maintenance of the wooden ships of the period. In 1809 Ostrobothnia was separated from Sweden along with the rest of Finland.

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Ostrobothnia

[edit] Heraldry

The arms is crowned by a count's coronet, though by Finnish tradition this more resembles a Swedish baron's coronet. Blazon: "Azure, six ermines courant argent, tail-tips sable."