WESTERN FINLAND

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

Contents

Historical provinces

Administration

Regions

Heraldry

External links

Historical provinces

''For History, Geography and Culture see: Finland Proper, Satakunta and Ostrobothnia''
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.

Administration

''Main article: Western Finland State Provincial Office''
The Western Finland State Provincial Office 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 led 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 Western Finland''
Western Finland is divided into seven regions:

★ Southern Ostrobothnia (''Etelä-Pohjanmaa'')

★ Ostrobothnia (''Pohjanmaa'')

★ Pirkanmaa (''Pirkanmaa'')

★ Satakunta (''Satakunta'')

★ Central Ostrobothnia (''Keski-Pohjanmaa'')

★ Central Finland (''Keski-Suomi'')

★ Finland Proper (''Varsinais-Suomi'')
The regions in Western Finland are divided into 204 municipalities.

Heraldry

''Main article: Heraldry of Western Finland''
The coat of arms of Western Finland is composed of the arms of Finland Proper, Satakunta and Ostrobothnia.

External links

★ Western Finland State Provincial Office - Official site