Skanör-Falsterbo

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Location of the Skanör-Falsterbo Peninsula within Vellinge Municipality, in Sweden's southernmost province Skåne.

The Falsterbo Peninsula is the name of the southwesternmost tip of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It marks the border between the Baltic Sea and the Sound (Öresund). Within, the two towns of Skanör and Falsterbo have grown together to form a conurbation, with a total of about 7,000 inhabitants. Both are located in the elongated reef-like western part of the peninsula, Falsterbo to the south and Skanör to the north.

[edit] Geography

Old part of Falsterbo

It is situated about 25 kilometres south of the city of Malmö. The conurbation has its center at 55°24′N 12°51′E.

The peninsula is divided by the Falsterbo Canal, a waterway at the base of the Falsterbo Peninsula that shortens the route between the Sound and the Baltic Sea.

Falsterbo is a small city in Scania. It belongs to Vellinge Municipality in Skåne, in southernmost Sweden. The population in the parish Falsterbo was 2,300 (as of 1996); however it forms a conurbation with Skanör, with a joint population of 7,087 (as of 2000). During the 20th century the conurbation has become an affluent suburb for people working in the Malmö–Lund region, as well as a popular site among older people who have retired from higher positions abroad or in the capital.

[edit] History

Skanör and Falsterbo are often denoted as cities due to historical reasons. The town of Falsterbo can definitely be said to have existed in the early 13th century when the city, together with its close neighbour Skanör hosted the annual Scania Market (Skånemarknaden). As the market was dismantled during the 16th century the two cities lost their former importance, but retained the town privileges, but with joint administration. Thus Falsterbo and Skanör remained small fishing towns until the rail line from Malmö–Vellinge was built in 1904. Along the railroad, new residential areas grew up. The railroad was eventually closed down in 1971 and dismantled the year after.

[edit] Notability

The Falsterbo light house, adjacent to the bird observatory, offers this view of the ocean at bad weathers.

Falsterbo is known for the Falsterbo Bird Observatory, since most migratory birds leave the Scandinavian Peninsula via the five kilometers long reef south for Falsterbo. The very same reef, and the fine sand beaches on the peninsula, offers some of the best sea bathing of Sweden.

Falsterbo also has an annual horse jumping show, the Falsterbo Horse Show.