Post code: SF-33211
Tampere (Swedish Tammerfors) was founded in 1779 as an industrial settlement and is now Finland's third largest town (the largest inland town in Scandinavia) and the country's leading industrial city. It lies between two lakes, Näsijärvi to the north and Pyhäjärvi to the south, which are linked by the
Tammerkoski, a stretch of rapids 945m/1,000yd long with a fall of 18m/59ft.
After Finland came under Russian control in 1809 the development of the town was promoted by the Tsars: thus between 1821 and 1906 its exports to Russia were exempted from customs duties.
Tampere's main industries are now metalworking, textiles and footwear. In addition to its theaters, which have an international reputation, it offers a wide range of cultural and recreational facilities, including the modern Municipal Library, the Lenin Museum, numerous parks and lakes and the Särkänniemi amusement park. Within the city limits are almost 200 lakes, and several inland shipping lines are based in Tampere, including the motor vessels of the Silver Line and the appealing old steamers which ply on the "Poets' Way".
Tampere is noted for its active cultural life with the open-air theatre, numerous festivals and the popular sports teams.
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