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Facts about Västerås and Västmanland
Area & population
Västerås is the sixth largest city in Sweden with a population of 132,523 people.
Sweden is divided in 25 counties and Västerås belongs to Västmanland.
Västmanland has an area of 8,363 km2 - 2% of Sweden’s total area. A total of 262 050 people live in the county of Västmanland and most live in the city of Västerås.
Important telephone numbers
SOS Emergencies 112
Telia directory enquiries 118 118
Telia enquiries abroad 118 119
Tow truck, nationwide number to Assistanskåren 020-919 912,
Falck Räddningskår, 020-38 38 38.
Holidays and red-letter days in Sweden
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2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| New Year’s Day |
1 January |
1 January |
1 January |
| The Eve of Epiphany, Twelfth Night |
6 January |
6 January |
6 January |
| Valentines day |
14 Februari |
14 Februari |
14 Februari |
| Thursday before Easter |
13 April |
5 April |
20 March |
| Good Friday |
14 April |
6 April |
21 March |
| Easter Saturday |
15 April |
7 April |
22 March |
| Easter Sunday |
16 April |
8 April |
23 March |
| Easter Monday |
17 April |
9 April |
24 March |
| Walpurgis night |
30 April |
30 April |
30 April |
| Labour Day |
1 May |
1 May |
1 May |
| Ascension Day |
25 May |
17 May |
1 May |
| Pentecost Saturday |
27 May |
26 May |
10 May |
| Pentecost Sunday |
28 May |
27 May |
11 May |
| Mothers day |
28 May |
27 May |
25 May |
| Sweden’s National Day |
6 June |
6 June |
6 June |
| Midsummer’s eve |
23 June |
22 June |
20 June |
| Midsummer’s day |
24 June |
23 June |
21 June |
| All Saint’s Day |
4 November |
3 November |
1 November |
| Fathers day |
12 November |
11 November |
9 November |
| Lucia |
13 December |
13 December |
13 December |
| Christmas Eve |
24 December |
24 December |
24 December |
| Christmas Day |
25 December |
25 December |
25 December |
| Boxing Day |
26 December |
26 December |
26 December |
| New Year’s Eve |
31 December |
31 December |
31 December |
Time
Summer time starts at 02:00 on saturday last weekend in March 2008, when clocks are wound forward one hour. Winter time starts on 26 October 2008, when clocks are wound back one hour. CurrencyThe currency in Sweden is the Swedish krona, SEK. For current rates, please visit Forex. Distances
10 km = 6 English Miles.
The four seasons
The seasons in Sweden follow the calendar months with autumn stretching from September to November, winter from December to February, spring from March to May and summer from June to August.
The seasons are defined so that in winter the average day temperature remains under 0°C and in summer the average day temperature is constantly over +10°C and up to +30°C. Subsequently, spring and autumn temperatures are between 0°C and +15°C. Since temperatures fluctuate from one day to the next, it is difficult to say exactly when one season ends and another begins. It does not mean spring has arrived just because we enjoy a few weeks of above-zero temperatures in the middle of winter.
Lakes and waterways
The county has 242 fishing grounds, many with planted game fish. Lake Mälaren boasts excellent fishing and you can catch pike, pike-perch, and perch. No fishing permit required.
You may fish in private waters using hand-held gear free of cost and without a fishing permit. You can catch pike, pike-perch, perch, eel, burbot, whitefish, asp, and tench.
Västmanland also has excellent waterways like the rivers Arbogaån, Kolbäcksån, Norbergsån and Hedströmmen. Svartån runs through Västerås and has planted game fish. Strömsholms canal is one of the county’s major tourist attractions with its channel boats. The canal is 110 km and has 26 sluices.
Nature reserves and national parks
There are almost 80 nature reserves in Västmanland. The most popular are Ängsö, Tidö, Ridö-Sundbyholmsarkipelagen, Asköviken, Stengärdet, Fermansbo urskog, Gnien, Strömsholm, Kalkugnsberget, Hårsbäcksdalen, Kohagen, Sörkvarnsforsen, Aspnäs, Kalvnäset, Bredmossen, Matkullen, Lappland, Tinäset and Ingbo källor.
Västmanland is home to several national parks. Färnebofjärdens national park with its unique wilderness is only a 90-minute drive from Stockholm. You will find a wilderness full of vast forests and woodlands, berry and mushroom forests, wild animals, long sand beaches and hiking paths. Färnebofjärdens national park is ideal for those interested in fishing, bird-watching and plants. It also has plenty to offer everyone looking for some fun and relaxation - go hiking, swimming or paddle a canoe. The national park spans over 10,100 hectare, of which 4,110 hectare is water. There are more than 200 islands, islets and skerries.
Want to know what you may and may not do when you visit Sweden’s natural surroundings? Read more under the heading Allemansrätten - right of public access.
Landscape symbols
Landscape flower: Mistletoe
Landscape animal: Fallow deer
Landscape fish: Pike-perch
Landscape mushroom: Funnel chanterelle. Wild mushroom weekend in Västmanland.
Landscape mineral: Quartz hematite ore
Landscape insect: Scarce fritillary
Element: Nitrogen
Protected plants
Mistletoe
Buttercup
Heather
Pasqueflower
Daphne
Bird’s-eye primrose
King Karl’s Sceptre
All orchids are protected in all of Sweden.
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