Södertälje 1021708 225009606 2008-07-11T13:06:07Z 84.86.249.3 /* History */ {{Infobox Settlement |official_name = Södertälje |image_skyline = Marenplan Södertälje.jpg |image_caption = Södertälje |pushpin_map = Sweden |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |subdivision_name = [[Sweden]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Municipalities of Sweden|Municipality]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Södertälje Municipality]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Counties of Sweden|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Stockholm County]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Provinces of Sweden|Province]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Södermanland]] |area_footnotes = <ref name="scb">{{cite web |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km<sup>2</sup> 2000 och 2005 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/MI/MI0810/2005A01B/T%E4torternami0810tab1.xls |format=xls |language=Swedish |accessdate=2008-05-15}}</ref> |area_total_km2 = 25.29 |population_as_of = 2005-12-31 |population_footnotes = <ref name="scb"/> |population_total = 60,279 |population_density_km2 = 2383 |timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]] |utc_offset = +1 |timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] |utc_offset_DST = +2 |latd=59 |latm=11 |lats= |latNS=N |longd=17 |longm=38 |longs= |longEW=E |website = }} [[Image:Södertäljes vapen2, Nordisk familjebok.png|right|thumb|150px|Coat of arms of Södertälje]] '''{{Audio|sv-Södertälje.ogg|Södertälje}}''' is a [[urban areas of Sweden|city]] in [[Södermanland]] in east central [[Sweden]] about 30 km 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 81,000. Södertälje has received worldwide attention because of the large influx of Iraqi refugees - Södeträlje has taken in more Iraqi refugees than the United States and Canada combined.[http://www.thelocal.se/11040/20080411/0] == History == 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 [[Bubonic plague|plague]] epidemics, the population of the city dipped to barely above 200. Today, Södertälje has one of Europe's largest exile communities of [[Assyrians]] (also known as [[Syriacs]], [[Arameans]] and [[Chaldeans]]). == Business == Truck manufacturer [[Scania AB|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 &ndash; [[Elitserien |Elitserien]] and plays their matches in [[AXA Sports Center]] (aka Scaniarinken). [[Assyriska FF]] and [[Syrianska FC]] are also two successful [[football (soccer)|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. ==Canal== The town is beautifully situated on a [[headlands and bays|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]] [[steamboat]]s 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]]. == Public transport == Södertälje is served by the [[Public transport in Stockholm|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 stops. From Södertälje Syd it is possible to take the [[Public transport in Stockholm|Stockholm public transport]] to all stations in the Södertälje area. == Notable natives == *[[Björn Borg]], tennis player *[[Jan Guillou]], author and journalist *[[Bengt Westerberg]], former leader of the [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)|Liberal People's Party]] *[[Herreys|Richard, Louis and Per Herrey.]], the group that won the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1984]] with the song "[[Diggi-loo diggi-ley]]" == See also == *[[International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships]] (1989) *[[Vabis]] == References == {{commons}} *{{sv icon}} [http://runeberg.org/nfch/0111.html article ''Södertälje''] from [[Nordisk Familjebok]] (1919) Official web of [http://www.sodertalje.se/ ''Södertälje''] {{Reflist}} {{Cities in Sweden}} {{Localities in Södertälje Municipality}} {{coor title dm|59|11|N|17|38|E|region:SE_type:city}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sodertalje}} [[Category:Swedish municipal seats]] {{Link FA|sv}} [[da:Södertälje]] [[de:Södertälje]] [[et:Södertälje]] [[fr:Södertälje]] [[id:Södertälje]] [[la:Telga australis]] [[nl:Södertälje (stad)]] [[no:Södertälje]] [[pl:Södertälje]] [[ro:Södertälje]] [[ru:Сёдертелье]] [[sv:Södertälje]] [[vo:Södertälje]]