Saltvik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saltvik
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Municipality
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| Saltviks kommun | ||
Saltvik Church
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Location of Saltvik in Finland
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 Saltvik
Location in Åland
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| Country |  Finland |
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| Region | Åland | |
| Sub-region | Åland Countryside sub-region | |
| Area
(2018-01-01)
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| • Total | 1,166.54 km2 (450.40 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 152.25 km2 (58.78 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 1,014.63 km2 (391.75 sq mi) | |
| Area rank | 275th largest in Finland | |
| Population
(2023-12-31)
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| • Total | 1,791 | |
| • Rank | 266th largest in Finland | |
| • Density | 11.76/km2 (30.5/sq mi) | |
| Population by native language | ||
| • Swedish | 90.5% (official) | |
| • Finnish | 3.9% | |
| • Others | 5.6% | |
| Population by age | ||
| • 0 to 14 | 16.4% | |
| • 15 to 64 | 57.9% | |
| • 65 or older | 25.7% | |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (EET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+03:00 (EEST) | |
| Website | www.saltvik.ax | |
Saltvik is a special kind of town, called a municipality, located in Åland. Åland is a group of islands that is an independent area of Finland. Saltvik covers a large area, including land, lakes, and a lot of sea.
The islands north of Saltvik are known for being very beautiful. Close to the mainland, you'll find big islands like Boxö, Sommarö, Flatö, and Ryssö. Further out, the sea stretches far and wide.
Contents
Saltvik's Past: A Journey Through Time
Saltvik has a very long and interesting history.
How Saltvik Appeared
About 8,000 years ago, when the land slowly rose from the sea, Saltvik was one of the first places to appear in Åland. Imagine it as the first piece of land to peek out of the water!
Viking Times in Kvarnbo
During the exciting Viking Age, a place called Kvarnbo in Saltvik was very important. It was a central spot where courts were held and people traded goods. Today, you can still visit the old medieval church there. You can also see a special monument at the court place that reminds everyone of its history.
Saltvik Church: A Medieval Treasure
The St:a Maria church is located near Kvarnboviken, in the eastern part of Saltvik. This church, made of red granite, is one of the oldest churches in all of Åland. It was once the main church for the entire region.
The church has been changed and made bigger many times over the centuries. The oldest parts were built in the late 1200s. However, people have added to it and fixed it up from the 1300s all the way up to today. For example, there are old drawings made with chalk on the walls. These drawings were painted, then covered up, and then uncovered again later!
Around and even under the church, people have found signs of houses from the Viking Age. This makes sense because the church is built right in the middle of the biggest grave site from the Iron Age in Åland.
What People Do in Saltvik
Most people in Saltvik work in jobs that help others or in public services.
Jobs in Saltvik
- About half of the people work in the service industry or for the government.
- Around 15% of people work in transportation.
- About 14% work in factories and other industries.
- Building and construction jobs employ about 10% of the people.
- Farming and fishing employ about 7% of the people.
Chips Group: A Snack Story
The main office and a factory for the Chips Group are located in Saltvik. This company started making potato chips in Saltvik in 1969. They were the very first company to make potato chips in Finland!
Over time, the Chips Group grew by buying other companies and starting new ones. Today, they are the biggest snack company in the Nordic and Baltic countries. You might know some of their famous brands like Taffel, OLW, KiMs, and Oolannin. In 2005, a big company from Norway called Orkla ASA bought all the shares of the Chips Group.
Places to Explore in Saltvik
Saltvik has some interesting places you can visit.
- Orrdalsklint: This is the highest point on all of the Åland Islands. From here, you can see amazing views!
- Saltvik Church: This is a very old church from the Middle Ages, built around the 1370s. It's a great place to learn about history.
Famous People from Saltvik
Some well-known people have come from Saltvik.
- Pehr Henrik Nordgren: He was a talented composer who created music.
- Atos Wirtanen: He was a journalist and also a member of parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country.
