The Province of Western Finland is a province of Finland. It borders to the provinces of Oulu, Eastern Finland and Southern Finland. It also borders to the Gulf of Bothnia towards Åland.

Historical Provinces

For History, Geography and Culture see: Finland Proper, Satakunda and Ostrobothnia

In the 1997 redesign that reduced their number of provinces from 12 to 6 the Turku ja Pori province, Vaasa province, Central-Finland province and the northern parts of Häme province formed the new province of Western Finland.

Administration

Main article: Western Finland State Provincial Office

The Western Finland State Provincial Office is a joint regional administrative authority of seven ministries. The State Provincial Office serves at five localities; the main office is in Turku, regional service offices are located in Jyväskylä, Tampere and Vaasa, and finally there is an office in Pori. The State Provincial Office is led by Governor Rauno Saari. Approximately 350 persons work at the State Provincial Office. The agency is divided into eight departments.

Regions

Main article: Regions of Western Finland

Western Finland is divided into seven regions:

• Southern Ostrobothnia (Etelä-Pohjanmaa/ Södra Österbotten)
• Ostrobothnia (Pohjanmaa/ Österbotten)
• Pirkanmaa (Pirkanmaa/ Birkaland)
• Satakunta (Satakunta/ Satakunda)
• Central Ostrobothnia (Keski-Pohjanmaa/ Mellersta Österbotten)
• Central Finland (Keski-Suomi/ Mellersta Finland)
• Finland Proper (Varsinais-Suomi/ Egentliga Finland)

The regions in Western Finland are divided into 204 municipalities.

Heraldry

Main article: Heraldry of Western Finland

The coat of arms of Western Finland is composed of the arms of Finland Proper, Satakunda and Ostrobothnia.

External links

• Western Finland State Provincial Office - Official site