Södertälje

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Södertälje


image_caption = Södertälje
pushpin_

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Sweden
subdivision_type1 = Municipality
subdivision_name1 = Södertälje Municipality
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Stockholm County
subdivision_type3 = Province
subdivision_name3 = Södermanland
area_footnotes = cite web |title=Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km² 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]
area_total_km2 = 25.29
population_as_of = 2005-12-31
population_footnotes =
population_total = 60,279
population_density_km2 = 2383
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=59 |latm=11 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=17 |longm=38 |longs= |longEW=E
website =

Audio|sv-Södertälje.ogg|Södertälje is a 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 - Södertälje has taken in more Iraqi refugees than the United States and Canada combined. [http://www.thelocal.se/11040/20080411/0] Södertälje has the largest group of Assyrian/Aramean-Syriac people than any other city in world, with around 22,000 Assyrians/Syriacs living in Södertälje, and around 40,000 Assyrians/Syriacs living in Stockholm county.

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 plague epidemics, the population of the city dipped to barely above 200.

Today, Södertälje has Europe's largest exile communities of Assyrians and Aramean-Syriacs with more than 22,000 inhabitants. In the city, Syriacs also have 5 churches, two bishops, two soccer teams, and the headquarter of TV Channels of Suroyo TV and Suryoyo Sat that is shown worldwide.

Business

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.

Canal

The town is beautifully 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.

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 stops. From Södertälje Syd it is possible to take the 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
*Richard, Louis and Per Herrey., the group that won the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 with the song "Diggi-loo diggi-ley"
*Johan Edlund, guitarist and vocalist of Tiamat (band)

See also

*International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships (1989)
*Vabis

References

*sv icon [http://runeberg.org/nfch/0111.html article "Södertälje"] from Nordisk Familjebok (1919)Official web of [http://www.sodertalje.se/ "Södertälje"]