Rudkøbing municipality

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Rudkøbing municipality is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Funen County on the island of Langeland in south-central Denmark. The municipality includes the islands of Strynø and Strynø Kalv, and covers an area of 63 km². It has a total population of 6,676 (2005). Its mayor is Johan Norden, a member of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) political party.

The main town and the site of its municipal council is the city of Rudkøbing.

Neighboring municipalities with land connection are Sydlangeland to the south and Tranekær to the north. Neighboring municipality to the west Svendborg, on the southeast point of the island of Funen is separated from the municipality by the waters of the Great Belt to the north, the strait that separates Funen from the island of Zealand, and by the waters of the Little Belt to the south, the strait that separates Funen from the Danish mainland Jutland. Neighboring municipality to the east Ravnsborg on the island of Lolland is separated from the municipality by the waters of the Langeland Belt (Langelandsbælt), the strait that separates Langeland from Lolland.

Part of its southern border is defined by the Lindelse Cove (Lindelse Nor).

A bridge connects the municipal at the city of Rudkøbing over the islands of Siø and Tåsinge to the city of Svendborg on the island of Funen.

Ferry service connects the municipality on the west side of the island at the city of Rudkøbing over the Little Belt to both the island of Strynø and to the town of Marstal on the island of Ærø; on the east side of the island there is ferry connection at the town of Spodsbjerg to the harbour on Lolland northwest of the town of Nakskov.

By January 1, 2007 Rudkøbing municipality will cease to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It will be merged with existing Tranekær and Sydlangeland municipalities to form the new Langeland municipality. This will create a municipality with an area of 290 km² and a total population of 14,223 (2005). The new municipality will belong to the new Region Syddanmark ("South Denmark Region").