Västervik

Västervik is a city and the seat of Västervik Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden, with 21,140 inhabitants in 2010.[1] Västervik is one of three coastal towns with a notable population size in the province of Småland.

Västervik
A panorama of Västervik from the roof of St. Gertruds Church.
Västervik
Västervik
Coordinates: 57°45′N 16°38′E
Country Sweden
ProvinceSmåland
CountyKalmar County
MunicipalityVästervik Municipality
Area
  Total12.92 km2 (4.99 sq mi)
Elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2010)[1]
  Total21,140
  Density1,637/km2 (4,240/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
593 80
Area code(s)(+46) 49
ClimateCfb
Websitewww.vastervik.se
Västervik around 1900

Climate

Västervik has a semi-continental type of the oceanic climate, with vast differences between seasons, but winters being milder than required for a conventional continental climate. The major weather station in the area is in Gladhammar 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of Västervik. Differences are likely to be minor, with precipitation normals being available in greater detail for Västervik's station. Overnight lows may be the biggest difference, due Västervik's coastal position.

Climate data for Gladhammar 2002-2016 for temperatures; Västervik 1961-1990 for precipitation
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 12.1
(53.8)
16.5
(61.7)
21.8
(71.2)
26.8
(80.2)
29.0
(84.2)
33.2
(91.8)
34.0
(93.2)
33.6
(92.5)
28.3
(82.9)
24.0
(75.2)
15.4
(59.7)
13.6
(56.5)
34.0
(93.2)
Average high °C (°F) 1.2
(34.2)
2.2
(36.0)
5.8
(42.4)
11.7
(53.1)
16.6
(61.9)
20.6
(69.1)
23.3
(73.9)
22.1
(71.8)
18.3
(64.9)
11.2
(52.2)
6.4
(43.5)
3.0
(37.4)
11.9
(53.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.5
(29.3)
−0.9
(30.4)
1.6
(34.9)
6.2
(43.2)
10.9
(51.6)
14.8
(58.6)
17.8
(64.0)
16.8
(62.2)
13.3
(55.9)
7.5
(45.5)
3.7
(38.7)
0.4
(32.7)
7.6
(45.7)
Average low °C (°F) −4.1
(24.6)
−4.0
(24.8)
−2.6
(27.3)
0.7
(33.3)
5.1
(41.2)
9.0
(48.2)
12.3
(54.1)
11.4
(52.5)
8.2
(46.8)
3.8
(38.8)
1.0
(33.8)
−2.2
(28.0)
3.2
(37.8)
Record low °C (°F) −31.4
(−24.5)
−33.1
(−27.6)
−26.5
(−15.7)
−15.3
(4.5)
−4.5
(23.9)
−0.1
(31.8)
4.5
(40.1)
2.1
(35.8)
−4.0
(24.8)
−10.2
(13.6)
−13.8
(7.2)
−25.8
(−14.4)
−33.1
(−27.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 42.0
(1.65)
30.7
(1.21)
32.4
(1.28)
36.0
(1.42)
43.3
(1.70)
45.1
(1.78)
67.6
(2.66)
49.4
(1.94)
59.9
(2.36)
45.9
(1.81)
53.1
(2.09)
50.8
(2.00)
559.5
(22.03)
Source 1: SMHI[2]
Source 2: SMHI Monthly Data 2002-2015[3]

Economy

The city still bases much of its industry on its harbour, and on the industries that were established as a result of it in the late 19th century. Västervik has suffered the closure of certain factories, notably Electrolux, with associated job losses. Just outside Västervik, there is the static inverter of HVDC Gotland and Fårhultsmasten, a 335 m tall guyed mast used for FM/TV-transmission, which shares with three other masts the title of Sweden's tallest structure.

Culture

Every year since 1966 there is a folk music festival in Västervik, at the ruins of the Stegeholm castle. The area has artistic talent by artists, potters, craft people and painters.

Recreation

Being a summer town popular with yachtspeople, campers, daytrippers, and returning former residents, Västervik experiences an annual revival in July.

Västervik offers an outdoor life of climbing, canoeing and sailing or islands to visit and stay at. Björn Ulvaeus, a member of the internationally successful pop group ABBA who grew up in Västervik, is building a complex consisting of hotel, restaurant, and apartments in the bay near Stegeholm castle, which will be a tourist attraction for Västervik.

Other uses

Västervik is also the name of a small village 8 km north of Vaasa, Finland. The name just means "western bay", so there could be more minor localities by that name.

Notable natives

See also

References

  1. "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. "Precipitation Normals 1961-1990" (in Swedish). Swedish Metereological and Hydrological Institute (Västervik code 7647).
  3. "Yearly and Monthly Statistics" (in Swedish). SMHI. March 31, 2016.
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