Oulu

Oulu is the sixth largest city in Finland and the largest of the northern half of Finland. It is the leading city of northern Finland, and has, for example, a technology park which houses the University of Oulu. The entire province of Oulu is, from a geographical point of view, a transition zone between northern and southern Finnish, which is supposed to say that as much as the natural demarcation between Lapland and the southern region of Lagos. Besides, it is the capital of the Province of Oulu.

The city of Oulu  was founded by the order of King Carl IX of Sweden at the mouth of the Oulu River in 1605. Oulu, which is located on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia in Finland, has been the province's capital since 1776 and from being a town known for tar and salmon, Oulu has evolved into a growing modern centre of competence. The cultural life in Oulu is rich and varied. The best known cultural exports of the city are Air Guitar World Championships (World Championships of air guitar), Mieskuoro Huutajat (also known as the man cry), and the metal band Sentenced. The city of Oulu celebrated its 400th anniversary of founding in the year 2005.

Some interesting places in the city are:

• The Science Center (Tietomaaff). Inside you'll find all sorts of scientific things of interest. Various  Tietomaa technologies are explained and there are lots of things to learn about, but more importantly, you're allowed to play with everything.


• City Art Museum. Every year the museum hosts many exhibitions of Finnish art which would be of interest to both tourists and locals alike.


• Ainola Park (Ainolan puisto). Previus botanical garden of the university.


• The pedestrian street Rotuaari. It is in the centre and full of summer events and inhabitants of the city, as well as people from other places, visit the open market at the harbour. As summer arrives, the face of Oulu assumes a fresh green expression; trees reach foliage and the grass starts to grow.


• Oulu Cathedral. It represents neo-classical style and was originally built in 1777.


• The Vehicle Museum.


• The Market Square with the City Library, the City Theatre and old salt and tar storehouses. Oulu has a great theatre which covers many major works every year, along with annually hosting the Children's and Young People's Theatre festival.


• Technopolis, the technology village.


• Hupisaaret Park and Pikisaari Island. Hupisaaret Park is coloured by lush city gardens, numerous streams and paths in the Ainola Park. During the summer months, the park hosts a summer theatre and a cafe Tuomenkukka. Pikisaari is the home of the oldest wooden house in Oulu. The building, the Matila house, was built in 1737-1739. Nowadays it is a Sailor's home museum.


• The Northern Ostrobothnia Museum. It was re-opened in the fall of 2002 after a vast renovation. The new and improved basic exhibition depicts lives of Oulu people through out centuries.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oulu
http://www.ouka.fi/english/