Stockholm

From Wikinfo

**Stockholms stad**
File:Stockholm.png
City	Stockholm (1250)
County	Stockholm County
Provinces	Uplandia Sudermannia
Area - Total	Ranked 251st 188 km²
Population - Total (1999) - Density	Ranked 1st 743,703 3966.4/km² (1st)

Stockholm is the capital and the largest City of Sweden. The City of Stockholm is administratively a Municipality within Stockholm County, with an inner city population of 743,703, and with 1,823,210 including the suburbs and county.

As a capital Stockholm is the site of the Government and the Parliament of Sweden. It is also the residence of the head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf.

History

Main article: History of Stockholm

The earliest mention of Stockholm in writing dates from 1252, when it was an important post in the iron trade from the mines in Bergslagen. The city is said to have been founded by Birger Jarl in order to protect Sweden from invasion from the sea by foreign navies and stop pillage of the cities such as Sigtuna on lake [[M�laren]]. The first building at Stockholm was a fortification for the purpose of controlling the traffic between the Baltic Sea and M�laren.

File:View over Stockholm medium.jpg
View over Stockholm (larger picture): At the left the Royal Palace,
in the middle Helgeandsholmen, with the Parliament building,
above left Riddarholmen with Riddarholmskyrkan and
above right Kungsholmen with the City Hall.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Stockholm

Geography

Main article: Geography of Stockholm

The city is situated on fourteen islands and on the banks to the archipelago where lake M�laren meets the Baltic Sea. The city center is virually situated on the [[Riddarfj�rden|water]]. Coordinates: 59�21'N, 18�4'E.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Stockholm

Universities

Main article: Universities in Sweden

Stockholm might be most well known for the Nobel Prizes and the prize ceremony held each year, but the city also houses the largest concentration of Universities with research and higher education in Sweden.

University College of South Stockholm

Heraldry

Main article: Heraldry of Stockholm

Culture

Main article: Culture of Stockholm

Apart from being a large city with an active cultural life Stockholm as a capital also houses many of the national cultural institutions of Sweden, inluding theater, opera and museums.