The Province of Western Finland is a province of Finland. It borders to the provinces of Oulu, Eastern Finland and Southern Finland. It also borders to the Gulf of Bothnia towards Åland.

In the 1997 redesign that reduced their number of provinces from 12 to 6 the Turku ja Pori province, Vaasa province, Central-Finland province and the northern parts of Häme province formed the new province of Western Finland.

Länsi-Suomen lääni
Västra Finlands län
Recidence cityTurku
GovernorRauno Saari
Historical provinces Finland Proper
Satakunda
Ostrobothnia
Area
 - Total
Ranked 2nd
74,185 km²
Population
 - Total (2002)
 - Density
Ranked 2nd
1,839,581
24,8 / km²

Table of contents
1 Historical Provinces
2 Administration
3 Regions
4 Municipalities
5 Heraldry
6 External links

Historical Provinces

For History, Geography and Culture see: Finland Proper, Satakunda and Ostrobothnia

Administration

Main article: State Provincial Office of Western Finland

The State Provincial Office of Western Finland is a joint regional administrative authority of seven ministries. The State Provincial Office serves at five localities; the main office is in Turku, regional service offices are located in Jyväskylä, Tampere and Vaasa, and finally there is an office in Pori. The State Provincial Office is lead by Governor Rauno Saari. Approximately 350 persons work at the State Provincial Office. The agency is divided into eight departments.

Regions

Main article: Regions of Finland

Western Finland is divided into 7 regions:

  • Southern Ostrobothnia (Etelä-Pohjanmaa/ Södra Österbotten)
  • Ostrobothnia (Pohjanmaa/ Österbotten)
  • Pirkanmaa (Pirkanmaa/ Birkaland)
  • Satakunta (Satakunta/ Satakunda)
  • Central Ostrobothnia (Keski-Pohjanmaa/ Mellersta Österbotten)
  • Central Finland (Keski-Suomi/ Mellersta Finland)
  • Finland Proper (Varsinais-Suomi/ Egentliga Finland)

Municipalities

Main article:
Municipalities of Western Finland

Western Finland is divided into 204 municipalities and contains the cities of Turku, Jyväskylä, Tampere and Vaasa.

Heraldry

Main article: Heraldry of Western Finland

The coat of arms of Western Finland is composed of the arms of Finland Proper, Satakunda and Ostrobothnia.

External links