Ostrobothnia (region)


Ostrobothnia is a region of Finland. It is located in Western Finland. It borders the regions of Central Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, and Satakunta and is one of the four modern regions making up the historical province of Ostrobothnia.
Ostrobothnia is one of the two Finnish regions with a Swedish-speaking majority ; Swedish-speakers make up 51.2%. The region contains thirteen bilingual municipalities and two that are exclusively Finnish-speaking.
Geographically, Ostrobothnia has little topographical relief, because it is mostly former seafloor brought to surface by post-glacial rebound and the accumulation of alluvial sediment. Ostrobothnia has both vast expanses of cultivated fields as in Southern Ostrobothnia, and the archipelago of Kvarken. Glacial transport has deposited large quantities of rocks in the area. Like elsewhere in Pohjanmaa, rivers are a prominent part of the landscape. The major rivers that discharge into the Gulf of Bothnia in Ostrobothnia are Kyrönjoki, Lapuanjoki and Ähtävänjoki.
The regional tree is the black alder, the regional mammal is the common elk, the regional stone is Vaasa granite and the regional song is "The march of Vaasa".
In local circles or communities, Ostrobothnia is often referred to as "Pampas". The word derives from the similarities in the flat landscape with the Pampas area in South America.

Municipalities

The region of Ostrobothnia is made up of 15 municipalities, of which six have city status, and the links are only in the majority language names.
Name in
Finnish		Name in
Swedish		PopulationSwedish
Speakers		Finnish
Speakers		Sub-Region
IsokyröStorkyroKyrönmaa
PietarsaariJakobstadJakobstad
KaskinenKasköSydösterbotten
MustasaariKorsholmVaasa
KorsnäsKorsnäsVaasa
KristiinankaupunkiKristinestadSydösterbotten
KruunupyyKronobyJakobstad
LaihiaLaihelaKyrönmaa
LuotoLarsmoJakobstad
MaalahtiMalaxVaasa
NärpiöNärpesSydösterbotten
UusikaarlepyyNykarlebyJakobstad
Pedersören kuntaPedersöreJakobstad
VaasaVasaVaasa
VöyriVöråVaasa

Former municipalities:
Results of the 2019 Finnish parliamentary election in Ostrobothnia:

Heraldry

The sprouting wheatsheaf is a symbol of the Royal House of Vasa; a Vasa king established the city of Vaasa, the capital of the region. The running stoats are a symbol of Ostrobothnia.