Tampere << TAHM puh `ray` >> is one of Finland’s largest cities and industrial centers. The municipality of Tampere has a population of 249,009. A municipality may include rural areas as well as the urban center. Of Finland’s cities, only Helsinki has more industry. Tampere lies in southern Finland between Lakes Nasijarvi and Pyhajarvi.
Tampere’s chief industries are food and metal processing and paper and textile production. The Tammerkoski River and waterfalls run through the city. Tampere has abundant parks and other recreational areas. It is the home of the University of Tampere. Most of the city’s people live in apartments. Some of its suburbs stand on beautiful ridges overlooking the lakes.
During the Middle Ages, the site of what is now Tampere was an important market and milling center. King Gustav III of Sweden and Finland established Tampere as a city in 1779. The city began its industrial growth in the mid-1800’s.
