Piteå, Sweden
| Piteå | |
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The city square
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 Piteå
Piteå
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| Coordinates: 65°20′N 21°30′E / 65.333°N 21.500°ECoordinates: 65°20′N 21°30′E / 65.333°N 21.500°E | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Province | Norrbotten |
| County | Norrbotten County |
| Municipality | Piteå Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24.74 km2 (9.55 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2010) | |
| • Total | 22,913 |
| • Density | 926/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Piteå is a locality and the seat of Piteå Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The town has 22,913 inhabitants, out of a municipal total of 41,000 in 2008.
Piteå is located at the mouth of the Pite River (Swedish: Piteälven), at the shore of the Bay of Bothnia. The central part is located on an islet called Häggholmen, which due to post-glacial rebound almost has become a part of the mainland; the land in northern Sweden rises at a rate of up to 9 mm (0.35 in) per year.
Piteå has an attractive archipelago, which is one of the reasons it is a popular place for tourism both in summer and winter. It features a beach resort area that is often labelled "The Riviera of Norrland" (or Sweden), around which there is a spa, a long sandy beach, a restaurant and a golf course. The area is also suitable for fishing and outdoor activities. In the winter, snow activities such as skiing and winter bathing are common.
Piteå has a climate that is classified as subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc), bordering to a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb).
The warmest months in Piteå are June, July, and August, with high temperatures of 17 to 30 °C (63 to 86 °F). The coldest are December, January, and February, with low temperatures of −22 to −10 °C (−8 to 14 °F).
Piteå received its city privileges on May 12, 1621. The town was originally situated slightly north of its current location, in present-day Öjebyn. In July, 1666, the entire town burnt down, and over the following few years it was rebuilt on Häggholmen, a small island which forms the nucleus of present-day Piteå. In 1721, the new town was burnt down by Russian troops during the Russian Pillage of 1719-1721, and the only building that remained was the church, which is still standing.
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Wikipedia