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Södertälje
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' is a city in Södermanland in east south-central Sweden, located about 30 km (18 miles) south of Stockholm, and is the seat of Södertälje Municipality, Stockholm County. The city has a population of about 62,000 out of a municipal total of 83,600. Södertälje is noted for its large influx of Iraqi refugees - Södertälje has taken in more Iraqi refugees than the United States and Canada combined.
Södertälje has the largest group of Assyrians/Syriacs than any other city in Europe, with more than 22,000 Assyrians/Syriacs living in Södertälje (35% of the population), and around 80,000 Assyrians/Syriacs living in Stockholm County.
The international channels of Suroyo TV and Suryoyo Sat are based in Södertälje.
r to 600 AD, the lake Mälaren was connected to the sea, but due to land elevation, the lake was slowly cut off and boats had to be ported over land to and from the lake.
The name Telje is mentioned in the 11th century.
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Encyclopedia
' is a city in Södermanland in east south-central Sweden, located about 30 km (18 miles) south of Stockholm, and is the seat of Södertälje Municipality, Stockholm County. The city has a population of about 62,000 out of a municipal total of 83,600. Södertälje is noted for its large influx of Iraqi refugees - Södertälje has taken in more Iraqi refugees than the United States and Canada combined.
Södertälje has the largest group of Assyrians/Syriacs than any other city in Europe, with more than 22,000 Assyrians/Syriacs living in Södertälje (35% of the population), and around 80,000 Assyrians/Syriacs living in Stockholm County.
The international channels of Suroyo TV and Suryoyo Sat are based in Södertälje.
History & Immigration
Prior to 600 AD, the lake Mälaren was connected to the sea, but due to land elevation, the lake was slowly cut off and boats had to be ported over land to and from the lake.
The name Telje is mentioned in the 11th century. To resolve a name conflict with another town that was founded North of Stockholm in the 17th century, Söder (meaning south) was added to create Södertälje and Norr was added to the other to create Norrtälje.
In the 18th century Södertälje had a charter, but due to the Great Northern War and a series of plague epidemics, the population of the city dipped to barely above 200.
Since 1960s and 70s, Södertälje has the world's largest exile communities of Assyrians/Syriacs with more than 22,000 inhabitants, especially in the quarter (stadsdel) of Geneta, Hovsjö and Ronna. In the city, Syriacs also have 5 churches, two bishops, two soccer teams (Assyriska FF and Syrianska FC), many shops, association and the headquarter of TV Channels of Suroyo TV and Suryoyo Sat that is shown worldwide.
Since 2000s, many Iraqi refugees came to Södertälje, and it has taken more Iraqis refugees than the United States and Canada combined. Today the Iraqi population in Södertälje is close to 6,000, but is increasing every year.
Other foreign backgrounds are mainly from Finland, Yugoslavia and Chile.
Demographics
About 40% of the inhabitants have foreign backgrounds, and this proportion currently increases by 1.5% per year.
35% of the inhabitants are Assyrian/Syriac people.
The most spoken languages in Södertälje beside Swedish and English is Syriac and Arabic, but also in a lesser extent in Turkish, Finnish and Serbian.
Economy
Truck manufacturer Scania has its main location in Södertälje. It is also one of the main sites for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The port of Södertälje is the second in the Stockholm region. Volkswagen has its Swedish headquarter located in Södertälje and Lantmännen Axa Foodservice AB is located in Järna 10 km south of Södertälje.
A large share of the population are immigrants or have parents that are immigrants from various countries which reflects in the business structure of Södertälje as Södertälje has a large share of small family businesses.
Sports
The city has Södertälje SK, an ice hockey team in the highest league – Elitserien and plays their matches in AXA Sports Center (aka Scaniarinken). Assyriska FF and Syrianska FC are also two successful football clubs started in 1974 and 1977. They play in the same arena, Södertälje Fotbollsarena. In basketball, Södertälje BBK is one of the best in the country, and became Swedish Champions in the 2004/2005 season.
Geography
The town is situated on a bay of Lake Mälaren, which is here connected with the Baltic Sea by the Södertälje Canal, 3,5 miles (5,5 km) in length, with a minimum depth of 20 ft (6,5 m). This is on the route followed by the Göta Canal steamboats between Stockholm and Gothenburg. It was opened in 1819 and much enlarged in 1924, though a canal was begun here in the first half of the 15th century at the instigation of the patriot Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson.
Climate
Södertälje, and the rest of Stockholm region has a humid continental climate according to the Köppen climate classification and displays four distinct seasons. Due to the city's high northerly latitude, daylight varies widely from more than 18 hours around midsummer, to only around 6 hours in midwinter. Södertälje has much warmer and sunnier weather than other locations at the same latitude mainly because of the influence of Gulf Stream. The city enjoys 1,981 hours of sunshine annually.
Summers have an average daytime high temperatures of 20 - 23°C (68 - 74°F) and lows of around 15°C (59°F), but there are periods of heat waves and many days with temperatures above 25°C+ (77°F+). Winters are cold, though sometimes milder with temperatures ranging from -3 to 1°C (27 - 33°F), while spring and autumn mainly cool.
Annual precipitation is 539 mm (21.2 inches) with light to moderate rainfall throughout the year. Snow mainly occurs from December through March, but snow covers does not remain for a long time.
Public transport
Södertälje is served by the Stockholm public transport system, but has also a main line railway station for connections outside Stockholm County. The main railway station is Södertälje Syd (South) and located some 5 km outside of the city center where most national trains stop. From Södertälje Syd it is possible to take the Stockholm public transport to all stations in the Södertälje area.
Notable natives
See also
- International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships (1989)
- Vabis
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