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Hanko
KNOWLEDGE OF Hanko
Hanko or Hangö in Swedish, (Russian: Гангут), is a small bilingual port city on the south coast of Finland, 130 kilometers west of Helsinki. Its current population is 9,905 (2004-12-31), with nearly half (44,3 %) being Finland-Swedish.
The Hanko Peninsula, on which the city is located, is the southernmost tip of continental Finland. The soil is a sandy moraine, and vegetation consists mainly of pine and low shrubs. Hanko is known for its beautiful archipelago, see this photo, a panorama taken from the water tower.
Several sandy beaches and a multitude of leisure harbors attract tourists during the summer months. The city has a coastline of approximately 130 kilometers, of which 30 km are sandy beaches. There are also over 90 small islands and islets within the city limits.
The skyline of Hanko is dominated by the church and the water tower. Both of them received their current appearance after the war, as their predecessors were either damaged or destroyed.
The Hangon Regatta has been a traditional fixture on the Finnish social scene. Sailing enthusiasts attend in order to compete, as well as mostly young people who have very little or no interest in sailing in order to party and absorb the atmosphere. The latter constitute the "Regatta tail", not appreciated by most of the town's residents, and which causes huge expenses for clean-up of the parks and streets.
Other traditional summer activities are the "Tennis Week", the "Sea Horse" riding competitions, and the "Summer Theatre" events.
The site was already known by sailors in the 15th century. Petroglyphs from that time are carved into the rock at the "Hauensuoli" (Swedish: "Gäddtarmen", English: "Pike's Gut") island.
Hanko has a long history of wars and battles. The Battle of Gangut between Swedish and Russian navies was fought in 1714 in the archipelago north of the peninsula. The battle was the first-ever victory of the Russian regular fleet.
The fortification works on the Hanko Peninsula started already in the end of the 18th century, when the Swedish constructed three separate forts on the outlying islands. The forts were later bombarded by the Royal Navy during the Crimean War and they were eventually blown up during the hostilities by their own defenders.
The city was founded in 1874, soon after the Hanko-Hyvinkää Railroad was inaugurated in 1872. The Imperial Charter for the city was granted by Tsar Alexander II.
Hanko was the port of choice for emigrants leaving Finland for a new life in North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A memorial statue, showing birds in flight, commemorates this.
The Hanko Peninsula, on which the city is located, is the southernmost tip of continental Finland. The soil is a sandy moraine, and vegetation consists mainly of pine and low shrubs. Hanko is known for its beautiful archipelago, see this photo, a panorama taken from the water tower.
Several sandy beaches and a multitude of leisure harbors attract tourists during the summer months. The city has a coastline of approximately 130 kilometers, of which 30 km are sandy beaches. There are also over 90 small islands and islets within the city limits.
The skyline of Hanko is dominated by the church and the water tower. Both of them received their current appearance after the war, as their predecessors were either damaged or destroyed.
The Hangon Regatta has been a traditional fixture on the Finnish social scene. Sailing enthusiasts attend in order to compete, as well as mostly young people who have very little or no interest in sailing in order to party and absorb the atmosphere. The latter constitute the "Regatta tail", not appreciated by most of the town's residents, and which causes huge expenses for clean-up of the parks and streets.
Other traditional summer activities are the "Tennis Week", the "Sea Horse" riding competitions, and the "Summer Theatre" events.
The site was already known by sailors in the 15th century. Petroglyphs from that time are carved into the rock at the "Hauensuoli" (Swedish: "Gäddtarmen", English: "Pike's Gut") island.
Hanko has a long history of wars and battles. The Battle of Gangut between Swedish and Russian navies was fought in 1714 in the archipelago north of the peninsula. The battle was the first-ever victory of the Russian regular fleet.
The fortification works on the Hanko Peninsula started already in the end of the 18th century, when the Swedish constructed three separate forts on the outlying islands. The forts were later bombarded by the Royal Navy during the Crimean War and they were eventually blown up during the hostilities by their own defenders.
The city was founded in 1874, soon after the Hanko-Hyvinkää Railroad was inaugurated in 1872. The Imperial Charter for the city was granted by Tsar Alexander II.
Hanko was the port of choice for emigrants leaving Finland for a new life in North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A memorial statue, showing birds in flight, commemorates this.
Chris