Avesta Municipality facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Avesta Municipality
Avesta kommun
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Avesta town hall
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| Country | Sweden | |
| County | Dalarna County | |
| Seat | Avesta | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 672.7 km2 (259.7 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 615.67 km2 (237.71 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 57.03 km2 (22.02 sq mi) | |
| Area as of January 1, 2010 | ||
| Population
(June 30, 2012)
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| • Total | 21,736 | |
| • Density | 32.3116/km2 (83.687/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| ISO 3166 code | SE | |
| Province | Dalarna | |
| Municipal code | 2084 | |
| Website | www.avesta.se | |
| Density is calculated using land area only. | ||
Avesta Municipality (Avesta kommun) is one of 290 municipalities of Sweden. It is located in Dalarna County, in the central part of Sweden. The main town and administrative center of the municipality is Avesta.
The municipality as it is today was formed in 1967. This happened when four smaller surrounding municipalities joined with the former City of Avesta. In 1971, it officially became a single, unified municipality.
Contents
Exploring Avesta's Location
Avesta Municipality shares its borders with several other municipalities. These include:
- Hedemora in Dalarna County.
- Hofors and Sandviken in Gävleborg County.
- Norberg and Sala in Västmanland County.
Towns and Villages in Avesta
The main towns and villages within Avesta Municipality are:
- Avesta (this is the main town and seat)
- Krylbo (this area is actually part of the Avesta town)
- Horndal
- Fors
Sports and Recreation in Avesta
Avesta is home to several sports teams that compete in various leagues.
Popular Sports Teams
- Speedway: The most successful sports team in Avesta is the speedway team Masarna. Their name means "the men of Dalecarlia". They compete in Sweden's top division.
- Football (Soccer): Local football teams include Avesta AIK and Krylbo IF.
- Ladies' Team Handball: The municipality has a ladies' handball team called Avesta Brovallen HF.
- Ice Hockey: For ice hockey fans, there is the team Avesta BK.
What Makes Avesta Special?
Avesta has a rich history and some unique attractions.
Avesta's Historic Mint
From 1644 to 1776, Avesta was a very important part of the Swedish Mint. This is where most of Sweden's copper plate money was made. The largest copper plate coin ever made, a 10 daler plate, is displayed at the Avesta Myntmuseum. It weighs about 19.4 kilograms (that's over 40 pounds!).
European Bison Park
Just west of Avesta town, in an area called Stubbsveden, you can find a special wildlife park for European bison, also known as wisent. During the summer, you can take guided tours to see these amazing animals up close. Sometimes, bison from this park are moved to wild herds in Poland and Romania. This helps to make the wild bison populations stronger and more diverse.
Avesta's Steel Industry
The biggest industry in Avesta is its steel mill. Today, it is owned by a Finnish company called Outokumpu Oyj. Iron production began here way back in the 1500s. It became more industrial in the 1600s. Even though the mint became more important for a while, steel production continued. In 1823, a forge was added. Later, in 1924, the mill started making special stainless, acid-proof, and fire-resistant steels. By the 1980s, cold- and hot-rolled stainless steels were the main products. In 1991, the Avesta firm joined with British Steel Stainless. Then, in 2001, Outokumpu took over most of the ownership.
The World's Largest Dalecarlian Horse
Avesta is home to the largest Dalecarlian horse (Dalahäst) in the world. This famous Swedish wooden horse statue is huge! It stands about 13 meters (over 42 feet) tall and weighs an incredible 67 tons.
Famous People from Avesta
Many notable individuals have connections to Avesta Municipality.
- Mats Åhlberg: An ice hockey player, born in Avesta in 1947.
- Pär Aron Borg: Born in Avesta in 1776, he was a teacher for the blind and deaf.
- Mattias Ekström: A racing driver, raised in Snickarbo, Avesta municipality.
- Calle Jularbo: A famous accordionist and composer, raised in Östanbyn, Avesta.
- Lina Hurtig: A football player for the Swedish national team, born in 1995.
- Erik Axel Karlfeldt: A poet, author, and Nobel Prize winner, born in Karlbo, Avesta.
- Marcus Kock: A mintmaster active in Avesta from 1626.
- Nicklas Lidström: An ice hockey player who played in the NHL, born in Krylbo, Avesta municipality.
- Carl Martin Norberg: A gymnast and Olympic gold medalist, born in Avesta in 1886.
- Maja Nylén Persson: An ice hockey player in the SDHL league, born in Avesta in 2000.
- Tony Rickardsson: A rally driver and former speedway champion (six times World Champion), born in Avesta in 1970.
- Ola Salo: A singer and composer, born in Avesta in 1977. He was a founding member of The Ark.
- Scar Symmetry: A metal band.
- Dan Söderström: An ice hockey player, born in Horndal, Avesta municipality in 1948.
- Jesper "JW" Wecksell: A professional CS:GO player for Fnatic.
- Tommy Vestlund: An ice hockey player for the Carolina Hurricanes, born in Fors, Avesta municipality in 1974.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Avesta para niños
