Tampere is the third largest city in Finland and the largest inland centre in the Nordic countries.

Currently there are 220,446 inhabitants (31.12.2013) in Tampere, and close to half a million inhabitants in Tampere Region, which comprises Tampere and its neighbouring municipalities.

Tampere is one of the three most rapidly developing regions in Finland. It is a centre of leading-edge technology, research, education, culture, sports and business.

In 2010 and 2012, the City of Tampere came first in an image survey comparing the largest cities in Finland. It was also the most attractive city among Finns who plan on moving.

Tampere in brief

Tampere is the third largest city in Finland and the largest inland centre in the Nordic countries. Currently there are 220,446 (31.12.2013) inhabitants in Tampere, and close to half a million inhabitants in Tampere Region, which comprises Tampere and its neighbouring municipalities.

Tampere’s population density is 410 per square kilometre. Tampere is one of the three most rapidly developing regions in Finland.

Close to nature

Tampere’s city centre is surrounded by lake and ridge scenery, sited on an isthmus between lakes Pyhäjärvi and Näsijärvi. The Tammerkoski rapids run through the city.Pyynikki, which was formed by the action of ice and sea more than 10,000 years ago, is the world’s highest gravel ridge. At its highest it rises 80 metres above Lake Pyhäjärvi and 160 metres above sea level.

There are 200 lakes and ponds in Tampere, and a total of 450 in the entire region.

24 per cent of Tampere’s surface area is water and 76 per cent land. 18.5 per cent of the land has a town plan.

There are numerous nature reserves in Tampere. Pyynikki and Viikinsaari near the city centre are the best known of them.

Parks and green areas amount to 2,400 hectares, approximately 100 square metres per inhabitant. The city also has four allotment areas. The Hatanpää allotment, established in 1916, was among the first in Finland.

History

The City of Tampere was established by King of Sweden Gustav III in 1779, on the bank of The Tammerkoski rapids.

Tampere has been an industrial pioneer in Finland since the very beginning. Finland’s first paper mill started operation in 1783, and the first paper machine was engaged at the J.C. Frenckell & Son’s factory in 1842.

The cotton factory established in 1820 by James Finlayson grew to become the country’s first large-scale industrial establishment. The first electric light in the Nordic countries was also lit in Finlayson’s modern production facilities in 1882.

The city’s engineering industry was bolstered by the manufacturer of grinding machines and water turbines Tampereen Pellava- ja Rauta-Teollisuus Oy (Tampella), which was established on the upper reaches of the Tammerkoski rapids in 1861.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Tampere was the largest industrial city in Finland.

Tampere is still the centre of Finnish industry today. Versatile research and education and cooperation between companies and universities have maintained and further developed the competitiveness of the region’s industry.