|
|
MALMO - SWEDEN
Malmö is a municipality and city in Scania in southernmost Sweden. Malmö is the principal town of South-Western Scania, a metropolitan area with some 530,000 inhabitants, adjacent to Metropolitan Copenhagen with some 1,100,000 inhabitants, together constituting the central point of the transnational Oresund Region. The municipality of Malmö is the third largest in Sweden after Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Malmö constitutes together with the town Arlöv in the north and the incorporated town Limhamn in the south a conurbation with a population of 250,000 inhabitants (suburbs excluded). The population of the municipality, i.e. with Arlöv excluded but some suburbs added, is about 270,000.
Geography
Malmö is known in Sweden as the city of parks. The largest two being
Pildammsparken and Kungsparken. Malmö is part of the transnational Oresund
Region and since 2000 the Oresund Bridge crosses the Oresund strait to
Copenhagen. The bridge was inaugurated July 1, 2000 and measures 8
kilometres, with pylons reaching 204.5 metres vertically. Trains pass the
bridge every 20 minutes and thereby connect Malmö, Copenhagen and the
Copenhagen Metro (inaugurated on Oct 19, 2002).
Economy
The economy of Malmö was traditionally based on shipbuilding and
construction related industries, such as concrete factories. The region's
leading university, with associated hi-tech and pharmaceutical industry, is
placed in nearby Lund. As a result, Malmö had a troubled economic situation
following the mid-1970s. However, during the last few years there has
finally been a revival. Contributing factors have been the economic
integration brought about by the bridge, a new university and a wave of
immigration.
Universities
Malmö has the country's eighth largest teaching site (Malmö Högskola, MAH),
established in 1998, with 1300 employees and 21,000 students (2003).
University College of Malmö
Heraldry
The city arms were granted in 1437 by King Eric of Pomerania. The arms of
Pomerania is argent with a griffin gules, which gave the griffin's head to
Malmö. The coat of arms for the city has also served as the basis for the
arms of the province of Scania and Skåne County, with differentiation in
colors. Blazon: "Argent, a Griffin's head erased Gules, crowned Or".
Sites of interest
The city is gaining in popularity as a tourist destination. It retains much
historical charm with an "old town" section filled with small shops. Every
year a big festival, Malmöfestivalen, is held in August, this usually fills
the streets in the centre of the city. Malmö also offers a late-medieval
castle, housing a small city museum and a fairly large art gallery.
Notable natives
August Palm (1849-1922), politician
Felix von Luckner (1881-1966), sailor
Frans Suell (1744-1818), businessman
Lukas Moodysson (1969-), director
Caspar Bartholin (1585-1629), medical scholar
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (1981-), footballer
Miscellaneous topics
Nightlife A lot of bands tend to play at various venues or in the many
plazas. These events are mainly centered around two places: Lilla Torg ("The
Small Square") is encircled by trendy pubs and upmarket night clubs, while
Möllevångstorget ("The Mill Meadow Square") houses run-down "slum pubs" as
well as hang-outs for artists and good opportunities for live music.
|
|
