Turku facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Turku
Turku – Åbo
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City
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Turun kaupunki Åbo stad City of Turku |
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Top row: Aerial view of Turku from atop Turku Cathedral
2nd row: Statue of Per Brahe, Turku Castle, Turku Cathedral 3rd row: Turku Medieval Market, The Christmas Peace Balcony of Turku, Twilight on the Aura River Bottom row: Summer along the Aura River, view of Yliopistonkatu pedestrian area |
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Country | Finland | ||
Area
(2009)
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• Total | 306.41 km2 (118.31 sq mi) | ||
• Land | 245.63 km2 (94.84 sq mi) | ||
• Water | 60.78 km2 (23.47 sq mi) | ||
Area rank | 282nd largest in Finland | ||
Population
(2013)
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• Total | 181,569 | ||
• Rank | 5th largest in Finland | ||
• Density | 739.2/km2 (1,915/sq mi) | ||
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) | ||
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) | ||
Postal code |
20000–20960
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Website | www.turku.fi |
Turku (Swedish: Åbo) is a city in Southwest Finland. It is the fifth-largest city in Finland, with about 180,000 people living there.
It is next to the municipalities of Aura, Kaarina, Lieto, Masku, Mynämäki, Naantali, Nousiainen, Pöytyä, Raisio and Rusko.
The official languages spoken in Turku are Finnish and Swedish.
The harbour of Turku is an important port. Many ships go from there to Mariehamn and to Stockholm. Turku Airport is also one of Finland's busiest airports.
Turku is located near the mouth of Aura river, and is spreads at both sides of the river. There are ten bridges over the Aura river in Turku.
History
Turku is the oldest city in the country. it was founded in 13th century, when Finland was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. It used to be the largest city and capital of Finland. From 1809 Russia ruled Finland, and in 1812 the government moved to Helsinki. A big fire destroyed much of Turku in 1827. After that, even the university moved to Helsinki.
The first school in Finland was established in Turku, the old Cathedral school in 13th century. The first university in Finland, "The Royal Academy of Turku" was established in the city in 1640, but it has moved to Helsinki and become the University of Helsinki. Now there are five universities in Turku: three in Finnish language and two in Swedish language.
Museums and other sights
Images for kids
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A daguerreotype photograph of the Nobel House, the first photograph taken in Finland, from 1842
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People celebrating Vappu in central Turku
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Locomotives at Turku Central railway station
See also
In Spanish: Turku para niños