Introduction to Tampere

172km (107 miles) N of Helsinki, 155km (96 miles) NE of Turku

On a narrow isthmus between two lakes (Lake Näsijärvi and Lake Pyhäjärvi), Tampere is Finland's second-largest city (pop. 203,000), and is primarily an industrial center; however, it remains one of the cleanest, brightest cities in Scandinavia, and is filled with parks, bodies of water, museums, art galleries, theaters, and statues, including some by Wäinö Aaltonen.

A vibrant young city with a university and a growing technology industry, Tampere is the site of one of Scandinavia's major attractions, an outdoor theater (Pyynikki) with a revolving auditorium. Tampere's Swedish name is Tammerfors.