Jomala is a municipality of Åland, an autonomous territory of Finland. The municipalities (kunta in Finnish, kommun in Swedish) represent the local level of self government in Finland and also act as the basic regional administrative units of the country. ... National motto: ? Official language Swedish Capital Mariehamn Governor Peter Lindbäck Premier Roger Nordlund Total Area  - Land  - Water 6,784 km² 1,527 km² 5,258 km² Population  - Total (2002)  - Density 26,257 17. ...

The municipality has a population of 3,508 (2004) and covers an area of 143.01 km² of which 1.02 km² is water. The population density is 24.1 inhabitants per km². 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The municipality is unilingually Swedish.

History

It is not known where the name Jomala comes from but it has been suggested that "jom" comes from the name of the Viking god Jom and "ala" means "place". Therefore Jomala would mean "the place where Jom is worshiped". Jomala was inhabited around 4000 years ago. Jettböle is one of the most renowned prehistoric sites. Other ancient sites include Borgberget where there was a Viking fortress and Kasberget which was one of the many mountains where signal fires were lit when enemies approached. The peninsula where Mariehamn is situated used to belong to Jomala. The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, the British Isles, and other parts of Europe from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ... Mariehamn is the capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finlands sovereignty. ...

Sights

The church of Jomala is dedicated to the patron saint of Åland, St. Olav. It is the oldest stone church in Åland and it is situated in the village of Prästgården. The oldest parts of the church date from the 12th century. The church tower is 52 meters tall and there is also a memorial for all the Ålanders who have moved away. The "king of Åland" Julius Sundblom is buried here. In the old times there was a great estate in the eastern side of the church. In several forms of Christianity, a patron saint has special affinity for a trade or group. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ...

The Lemström channel divides Jomala from its neighboring municipality, Lemland. It was widened by Russian POWs in 1882. Lemland is a municipality of Ã…land, an autonomous territory of Finland. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... 1882 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

The Kungsö battery was one of the ten coastal batteries which the Russians built in Åland during the First World War in 1916. The battery was situated 32 meters above sea level, in the highest point of Dalsberg. Finnish, Swedish and German troops invaded it in 1918. It was dismantled in 1919 by Finnish civilian workers. In military science, a battery is a group of artillery or cannon, so grouped in order to facilitate battlefield communication and the organization of barrages. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... 1916 is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 -The first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1919 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Culture

Since Jomala belongs to the Swedish-speaking areas of Finland, Midsommer is celebrated every year by hoisting up a Midsommer pole. It was a tribute to the sun in the ancient times. Harvest festivities are held every September. A sun is the star at the center of a planetary system. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with the length of 30 days. ...

External links

• The website of the municipality