Sotenäs Municipality facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sotenäs Municipality
Sotenäs kommun
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
|
||
 |
||
| Country | Sweden | |
| County | Västra Götaland County | |
| Seat | Kungshamn | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 690.15 km2 (266.47 sq mi) | |
| • Land | 139.18 km2 (53.74 sq mi) | |
| • Water | 550.97 km2 (212.73 sq mi) | |
| Area as of January 1, 2010. | ||
| Population
(June 30, 2012)
|
||
| • Total | 9,114 | |
| • Density | 13.2058/km2 (34.2029/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| ISO 3166 code | SE | |
| Province | Bohuslän | |
| Municipal code | 1427 | |
| Website | www.sotenas.se | |
Sotenäs Municipality (which is called Sotenäs kommun in Swedish) is a special area in western Sweden. It is part of Västra Götaland County. Think of a municipality as a local government area, like a county or district in other countries.
The main town, or "seat," of Sotenäs Municipality is Kungshamn. About 3,500 people live there. This municipality was formed in 1974. It was created by joining together several smaller areas. The name "Sotenäs" comes from an old historical area called Sotenäs Hundred.
Towns and Villages in Sotenäs
Here are the approximate numbers of people living in the larger towns and villages in Sotenäs Municipality. These numbers are from 2002 and are listed from smallest to largest.
- Hovenäset: About 200 people
- Ulebergshamn: About 300 people
- Bohus-Malmön: About 400 people
- Bovallstrand: About 500 people
- Väjern: About 900 people
- Smögen: About 1,400 people
- Hunnebostrand: About 2,000 people
- Kungshamn: About 3,000 people (This is the main town!)
A Look at Sotenäs History
The area of Västra Götaland County, where Sotenäs is located, has been home to people for thousands of years. It's famous for its very old historical sites. The oldest things found in Sotenäs Municipality are from around 6000 BC. That's a very long time ago!
From the younger Stone Age, you can find old burial places called dolmens. During the Bronze Age and Iron Age, many rock carvings were made here. These carvings are pictures etched into rocks. The whole province of Bohuslän is well-known for them.
The name Sotenäs likely started around 1000 AD. This is also when the old local area, called Sotenäs Hundred (or Härad in Swedish), began to take shape.
When Christianity came to Sweden, churches started to be built. The first churches in Sotenäs, like those in Askum and Tossene, were built in the 11th century.
Later, in the 1500s, fishing became very important. Especially the fishing of herring. Herring fishing was the main industry for hundreds of years. People used herring for food, oil, and even to make candles!
In the 1800s, a quarry was started on the island of Malmön. A quarry is a place where stone is dug out of the ground. The word "Malm" actually means "rock" in Swedish. This quarry was important for industry until the 1930s.
The official symbol, or coat of arms, for Sotenäs was approved in 1977. It shows a halibut, which is a type of fish. This symbol is based on the very old symbol used by the Sotenäs Hundred for centuries.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Sotenäs para niños
