Karlstad

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Karlstad

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image_caption = Karlstad Town Square
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Karlstad Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Värmland County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Värmland
area_footnotes = cite web |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km² 2000 och 2005 |publisher=Statistics Sweden |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%E4torternami0810tab1.xls |format=xls |language=Swedish |accessdate=2008-05-15]
area_total_km2 = 29.92
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 58,544
population_density_km2 = 1956
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=59 |latm=23 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=13 |longm=32 |longs= |longEW=E
website =

Karlstad is a city in Värmland, Sweden. The city has 58,544 inhabitants out of a municipal total of 83,500. It is the seat of Karlstad Municipality and the capital of Värmland County. Karlstad has a University and a Cathedral.

Karlstad is built on the river delta where Sweden's longest river, Klarälven, runs into Sweden's largest lake, Vänern. It has the second largest lake port in the country after Västerås.

Karlstad is often associated with sunshine and the symbol for Karlstad is a happy sun. Karlstad is reputed to be one of the sunniest towns in Sweden and a local waitress, known as "Sola i Karlstad" ("Sun in Karlstad") for her sunny disposition, is also commemorated with a statue.

History

On Karlstad's largest islet, there was a place of counsel called Tingvalla in the medieval age, which had roots from the Viking Age before 1000 AD. It was also used as a market place.Karlstad was granted its city charter on March 5, 1584 by the Swedish "Duke Charles", who would later be crowned King Charles IX of Sweden. The city derives its name from the King – Karlstad literally means "Charles' city". The Duke also granted Karlstad the right as a governmental seat in the region, and gave it a substantial amount of land.

The Duke built his own house in the city, which is referred to as "Kungsgården" ("The King's Manor"). Karlstad's Cathedral was built on the location Kungsgården in 1724 - 1730 by Christian Haller.

A significant coup d'état of modern Swedish history had its roots in Karlstad. During the night of 7th March 1809, Georg Adlersparre used the part of the western army that was stationed in Värmland to occupy Karlstad. From there he officially proclaimed a revolution, and during 9th March, he and his soldiers began their successful march toward the capital to end the reign of king Gustav IV Adolf.

Karlstad has suffered four major fires. Only the cathedral and a few houses remained after the last fire on July 2, 1865. Karlstad was thereafter rebuilt according to a grid pattern with wide streets surrounded by trees.

In 1905, the agreement to dissolve the union between Norway and Sweden was signed in Karlstad.

Sport and recreation

The ice hockey team Färjestads BK (home arena Löfbergs Lila Arena) won the Swedish Championship several times, most recently in 2006.

The International Ice Hockey Federation announced that the 2010 Men's World Inline Hockey Championships will be hosted by Karlstad. Lofbergs Lila Arena will be the primary site of the tournament.

Boltic-Göta is a bandy club formed in 2000 by the merger of two of the historically most successful bandy clubs in Sweden, IF Boltic and IF Karlstad-Göta. Their home arena, Tingvalla Isstadion, is claimed to be Europe's largest artificially frozen area.

OK Tyr is one of the largest orienteering clubs in Sweden. OK Tyr won Tiomila in 1989 and 1990.

IF Göta have a number of international athletes and host the annual athletics meet Götagalan. There is an outdoor athletics track at Tingvalla IP and an indoor track (200 m) in Våxnäshall. There are many sawdust jogging trails, some of which are lit.

Klarälvsbanan, a 90 km, asphalted railway line, runs from Karlstad to Hagfors. It is popular amongst cyclists, inlines skaters and roller skiers.

There are a large number of open-air bathing places, both in Vänern and other lakes in the municipality. Sundstabadet has a 25 m indoor swimming pool.

The Swedish Rally, with world championship status, is held annually in Värmland and Karlstad is a regular host of start, finish and special stages. Fact|date=April 2008

Education

Several upper secondary schools (gymnasium) offer the most common range of courses usually available throughout Sweden, including the IB Diploma Programme. The majority of students in Värmland need to commute or move to Karlstad for their upper secondary education.Fact|date=April 2008 Tertiary education is offered by Karlstad University, which was granted university status in 1999.

References

External links

* [http://www.karlstad.se Official site]