Överkalix Municipality
Encyclopedia
Överkalix Municipality is a municipality
in Norrbotten County
in northern Sweden
. Its seat
is located in Överkalix
.
In 1870 a part of old Överkalix Municipality was detached from it, forming a municipality called Korpilombolo
(now in Pajala Municipality
). The municipality was not affected by the two subdivision reforms of the 20th century.
The coat of arms
was designed in 1944 and based on the arms of the parish
. Its exact meaning is not known, but many northern arms feature bear
s, reindeer
or other animals.
. The unmodified scenic nature along the river attracts tourists
and fishers
every year. Within the municipality one also finds two of the river's most powerful waterfall
s, Jockfall (9 metres fall) and Linafall (16 metres fall).
Continuing north along the Kalix River one finds the iron ore mines
. Travelling south towards the coast
one finds larger towns, with Luleå
being the closest, located some 100 kilometres south. Transportation is reliable thanks to the E10 highway
.
The area otherwise contains much coniferous
forest
s.
, Finnish
is an official minority language
in the municipality and most names have a Finn counterpart.
The local Swedish dialect
is known as Överkalixmål, the Överkalix language.
(or urban areas) in Överkalix Municipality:
The municipal seat in bold
Traditionally the industry was dominated by forest industries, but this has decreased since the 1960s. It is estimated that the service sector will continue to expand and be the dominating sector some day. Many of those companies are in the field of computer
s and telecommunication
.
Municipalities of Sweden
The municipalities of Sweden are the local government entities of Sweden. The current 290 municipalities are organized into 21 counties...
in Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County is the northernmost county or län of Sweden. It borders Västerbotten County to the southwest, the Gulf of Bothnia to the southeast. It also borders the counties of Nordland and Troms in Norway to the northwest, and Lapland Province in Finland to the northeast.The name...
in northern Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Its seat
Administrative centre
An administrative centre is a term often used in several countries to refer to a county town, or other seat of regional or local government, or the place where the central administration of a commune is located....
is located in Överkalix
Överkalix
Överkalix is a locality and the seat of Överkalix Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 946 inhabitants in 2005.- Buildings and Structures :* 330 metres tall guyed mast for FM-/TV-broadcasting at 66°18'5" N, 22°51'13" E...
.
In 1870 a part of old Överkalix Municipality was detached from it, forming a municipality called Korpilombolo
Korpilombolo
Korpilombolo is a locality situated in Pajala Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 548 inhabitants in 2005....
(now in Pajala Municipality
Pajala Municipality
Pajala Municipality is a municipality in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden, bordering Finland. Its seat is located in Pajala.In 1884 Tärendö was detached from Pajala Municipality, forming a municipality of its own. In 1914 Pajala Municipality was once again split when Junosuando broke away...
). The municipality was not affected by the two subdivision reforms of the 20th century.
The coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was designed in 1944 and based on the arms of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
. Its exact meaning is not known, but many northern arms feature bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
s, reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
or other animals.
Geography
Överkalix Municipality is situated along the south-going Kalix RiverKalix River
The Kalix River is one of the four major rivers of Norrland, northern Sweden, that are untouched by water power...
. The unmodified scenic nature along the river attracts tourists
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and fishers
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
every year. Within the municipality one also finds two of the river's most powerful waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s, Jockfall (9 metres fall) and Linafall (16 metres fall).
Continuing north along the Kalix River one finds the iron ore mines
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
. Travelling south towards the coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
one finds larger towns, with Luleå
Luleå
- Transportation :Local buses are run by .A passenger train service is available from Luleå Centralstation on Sweden's national SJ railway service northbound to Narvik on the Norwegian coast, or southbound to Stockholm. See Rail transport in Sweden....
being the closest, located some 100 kilometres south. Transportation is reliable thanks to the E10 highway
European route E10
European route E 10 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Å, Norway and ends in Luleå, Sweden. The road is about 850 km in length...
.
The area otherwise contains much coniferous
Pinophyta
The conifers, division Pinophyta, also known as division Coniferophyta or Coniferae, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. Pinophytes are gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants, the great majority being...
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s.
Language
Due to its proximity to FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
is an official minority language
Minority languages of Sweden
In 1999, the Minority Language Committee of Sweden formally declared five minority languages of Sweden: Finnish, Sami language, Romani, Yiddish, and Meänkieli ....
in the municipality and most names have a Finn counterpart.
The local Swedish dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
is known as Överkalixmål, the Överkalix language.
Localities
There are four localitiesUrban areas in Sweden
Urban area is a common English translation of the Swedish term tätort. The official term in English, used by Statistics Sweden, is, however, locality. There are 1,940 localities in Sweden . They could be compared with census-designated places in the United States.A tätort in Sweden has a minimum of...
(or urban areas) in Överkalix Municipality:
| # | Locality | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Överkalix Överkalix Överkalix is a locality and the seat of Överkalix Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 946 inhabitants in 2005.- Buildings and Structures :* 330 metres tall guyed mast for FM-/TV-broadcasting at 66°18'5" N, 22°51'13" E... |
946 |
| 2 | Tallvik Tallvik Tallvik is a locality situated in Överkalix Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 444 inhabitants in 2005.... |
444 |
| 3 | Svartbyn Svartbyn Svartbyn is a locality situated in Överkalix Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 281 inhabitants in 2005.... |
281 |
| 4 | Vännäsberget Vännäsberget Vännäsberget is a locality situated in Överkalix Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 207 inhabitants in 2005.... |
207 |
The municipal seat in bold
Emphasis (typography)
In typography, emphasis is the exaggeration of words in a text with a font in a different style from the rest of the text—to emphasize them.- Methods and use :...
Industry
The municipality itself is the largest employer with around 430 employees. Thereafter follows Isolamin AB, a company making wall, ceiling and floor elements, with 110 employees. Other sectors:- Service companies, 150 employees
- ForestForestryForestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and land companies, 45 employees - TruckTruckA truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
and busBusA bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
companies, 35 employees - Manufacturing companies, 20 employees
Traditionally the industry was dominated by forest industries, but this has decreased since the 1960s. It is estimated that the service sector will continue to expand and be the dominating sector some day. Many of those companies are in the field of computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s and telecommunication
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
.
External links
- Överkalix Municipality - Official site