The theme of the
coat of arms of Mariehamn refers to the city's main livelihood, a
maritime transport, and the city's parks, which are typically lined with
linden trees.[10][11][12][13] The coat of arms was designed by Nils Byman and confirmed in 1951.[14]
Due to its central location in the
Baltic Sea, Mariehamn has become a major summer
resort town for global
tourism; as many as 1.5 million tourists visit there annually.[15][16][17]
History
This section needs expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (June 2022)
The town was named after the Russian empress
Maria Alexandrovna (1824–1880), literally meaning "Marie's Port". Mariehamn was founded on 21 February 1861 around the village of
Övernäs,[2][18] in what was at the time part of the municipality of
Jomala. The city has since expanded and incorporated more of Jomala territory. Mariehamn was built according to a very regular scheme which is well-preserved. One of the oldest streets is Södragatan where many wooden houses dating from the 19th century can be seen.
Following the
First World War, Mariehamn was home to the Mariehamn Grain Fleet.[19]
On November 8, 1963, a
devastating plane crash occurred in Mariehamn, in which 22 out of 25 people lost their lives, which made it the second-deadliest aviation accident in the history of Finland.[20]
Transportation
Harbours
The city is located on a
peninsula. It has two important harbours, one located on the western shore and one on the eastern shore, which are ice-free for nearly the whole year, and have no tides.[21] The
Western Harbour is an important international harbour with daily traffic to
Sweden,
Estonia and mainland
Finland. A powerful incentive for Baltic ferries to stop at Mariehamn is that, with respect to indirect taxation, Åland is not part of the
EU customs zone and so duty-free goods can be sold aboard.
Åland and Mariehamn have a reputable heritage in shipping. The
Flying P-LinerPommernmuseum ship (part of the
Åland Maritime Museum) is anchored in the Western Harbour. The Eastern Harbour features one of the largest marinas in
Scandinavia. The famous Dutch steamer Jan Nieveen (now called F.P. von Knorring, after Åland teacher and vicar
Frans Peter von Knorring) can also be found here.
The city is an important centre for Åland media; both of the local newspapers (
Ålandstidningen and
Nya Åland), several radio stations and the local TV channels (
TV Åland and
Åland24) operate out of the city. The islanders are traditionally fond of reading, and had public libraries before 1920. A printing works was established in the town in 1891.[21] The municipal library, which was built in 1989, is one of the most interesting modern buildings.
Mariehamn features several buildings drawn by Finnish architect
Lars Sonck, who moved to Åland as a child. Buildings drawn by him include the church of Mariehamn (1927), the main building of the
Åland Maritime College (1927) and the town hall (1939).
Hilda Hongell also designed several buildings, although only a few are still standing.
The Church of St George
The main parish church of Mariehamn was opened in 1927 and has been expanded in 1959 and renovated in 1972. when the pews were painted blue. The visible decorations include painted wooden ceiling panels, one for each of the followers of Christ. The unnamed panel is that representing Judas Iscariot. The church paintings and decorations are the work of Finnish artist Bruno Tuukkanen. These include the golden mosaics behind the altar which show the life of Christ. Gifts to the church include the font and the ship that hangs from the ceiling. This is the Tjerimaj. The church houses a 37 stop organ built in stages (1969, 1982).[22]
Mariehamn has a transitional climate between
humid continental climate (
Dfb) with certain
maritime (
Cfb) influence as a result of the strong maritime moderation from being an island in the Baltic Sea. This causes summers to be cooler than both the Swedish and Finnish mainlands, with winters being similar in cold to the adjacent coastal part of Sweden but milder than Finland's mainland. The lowest temperature at Mariehamn airport was −32.9 °C (−27.2 °F) in February 1979, and the highest temperature on record was 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) in July 2022 and July 1941.[26]
Climate data for Mariehamn Airport normals 1991-2020, extremes 1914 – present
The theme of the
coat of arms of Mariehamn refers to the city's main livelihood, a
maritime transport, and the city's parks, which are typically lined with
linden trees.[10][11][12][13] The coat of arms was designed by Nils Byman and confirmed in 1951.[14]
Due to its central location in the
Baltic Sea, Mariehamn has become a major summer
resort town for global
tourism; as many as 1.5 million tourists visit there annually.[15][16][17]
History
This section needs expansion. You can help by
adding to it. (June 2022)
The town was named after the Russian empress
Maria Alexandrovna (1824–1880), literally meaning "Marie's Port". Mariehamn was founded on 21 February 1861 around the village of
Övernäs,[2][18] in what was at the time part of the municipality of
Jomala. The city has since expanded and incorporated more of Jomala territory. Mariehamn was built according to a very regular scheme which is well-preserved. One of the oldest streets is Södragatan where many wooden houses dating from the 19th century can be seen.
Following the
First World War, Mariehamn was home to the Mariehamn Grain Fleet.[19]
On November 8, 1963, a
devastating plane crash occurred in Mariehamn, in which 22 out of 25 people lost their lives, which made it the second-deadliest aviation accident in the history of Finland.[20]
Transportation
Harbours
The city is located on a
peninsula. It has two important harbours, one located on the western shore and one on the eastern shore, which are ice-free for nearly the whole year, and have no tides.[21] The
Western Harbour is an important international harbour with daily traffic to
Sweden,
Estonia and mainland
Finland. A powerful incentive for Baltic ferries to stop at Mariehamn is that, with respect to indirect taxation, Åland is not part of the
EU customs zone and so duty-free goods can be sold aboard.
Åland and Mariehamn have a reputable heritage in shipping. The
Flying P-LinerPommernmuseum ship (part of the
Åland Maritime Museum) is anchored in the Western Harbour. The Eastern Harbour features one of the largest marinas in
Scandinavia. The famous Dutch steamer Jan Nieveen (now called F.P. von Knorring, after Åland teacher and vicar
Frans Peter von Knorring) can also be found here.
The city is an important centre for Åland media; both of the local newspapers (
Ålandstidningen and
Nya Åland), several radio stations and the local TV channels (
TV Åland and
Åland24) operate out of the city. The islanders are traditionally fond of reading, and had public libraries before 1920. A printing works was established in the town in 1891.[21] The municipal library, which was built in 1989, is one of the most interesting modern buildings.
Mariehamn features several buildings drawn by Finnish architect
Lars Sonck, who moved to Åland as a child. Buildings drawn by him include the church of Mariehamn (1927), the main building of the
Åland Maritime College (1927) and the town hall (1939).
Hilda Hongell also designed several buildings, although only a few are still standing.
The Church of St George
The main parish church of Mariehamn was opened in 1927 and has been expanded in 1959 and renovated in 1972. when the pews were painted blue. The visible decorations include painted wooden ceiling panels, one for each of the followers of Christ. The unnamed panel is that representing Judas Iscariot. The church paintings and decorations are the work of Finnish artist Bruno Tuukkanen. These include the golden mosaics behind the altar which show the life of Christ. Gifts to the church include the font and the ship that hangs from the ceiling. This is the Tjerimaj. The church houses a 37 stop organ built in stages (1969, 1982).[22]
Mariehamn has a transitional climate between
humid continental climate (
Dfb) with certain
maritime (
Cfb) influence as a result of the strong maritime moderation from being an island in the Baltic Sea. This causes summers to be cooler than both the Swedish and Finnish mainlands, with winters being similar in cold to the adjacent coastal part of Sweden but milder than Finland's mainland. The lowest temperature at Mariehamn airport was −32.9 °C (−27.2 °F) in February 1979, and the highest temperature on record was 31.3 °C (88.3 °F) in July 2022 and July 1941.[26]
Climate data for Mariehamn Airport normals 1991-2020, extremes 1914 – present