Vuosaari

Subdivisions of Helsinki
subdivision_name = Vuosaari
subdivision_name_swe = Nordsjö

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subdivision_number = 54
district = Eastern
area = 15.38
population = 34,905 (2007)
density = 2,270
postcode = 00960, 00980, 00990
regions = Meri-Rastila, Rastila, Keski-Vuosaari, Mustavuori, Niinisaari, Nordsjön kartano, Aurinkolahti, Kallahti
neighbours = Marjaniemi, Puotila, Vartioharju, Mellunmäki |

Vuosaari ( _sv. Nordsjö) is a neighbourhood in the City of Helsinki, Finland. It is located by the sea in East Helsinki, and with its area of 15.38 km² is geographically the largest district in the city. It also has two Helsinki Metro stations, Rastila and Vuosaari

Vuosaari is one of the fastest-growing areas in Helsinki. The number of inhabitants has been increasing rapidly since early 1990s, and continues to grow as new residential areas are being built. Currently (1.1.2006) the number of people living in Vuosaari is 35,000, and it is estimated that by 2010 it will be around 40,000.

Among other things, Vuosaari is noted for its nature and large, relatively unspoilt recreational seashore areas. One of these is Uutela, a popular nature park located in the southeastern corner of Vuosaari. The continual planning of new residential zones has in fact raised criticism, as many people would rather preserve Vuosaari's closeness to nature.

Vuosaari is the location of a new major seaport in Helsinki, the Vuosaari Harbour. Its construction has started and it should be ready for use in 2008. The new harbour project remains another subject of some controversy even after the decision to build it was made in 2002.

As of 2005 7,7% of the population of Vuosaari are foreign citizens and 11,6% have been born outside of Finland. This has given the neighborhood an overtly multi-cultural image in Finnish folklore, even though the percentage is higher in many other places in the Capital Region.

Due to its high concentration of government tenant housing complexes, immigrant and refugee population, and socially underprivileged native Finnish population, it is often regarded as one of the slum areas of metropolitan Helsinki. One of the main streets of Vuosaari is colloquially nicknamed as Mogadishu Avenue to illustrate the very high Somali refugee population around it.

The two natural gas power plants of Helsingin Energia, the power utility of the city of Helsinki, are located in Vuosaari.

History

Vuosaari has been populated continuosly ever since the Iron Age. The first written record of the inhabitants of the area comes from a document dating back to Magnus IV of Sweden in the 14th century. By the 16th century Vuosaari had regained its connection to the mainland and the former island had two Rustholl-mansions, Nordsjö and Rastböle respectively, several small villages and a military shipyard. Officers from Suomenlinna built houses in the peninsulas. This process was further amplified after a regular steam boat connection between Helsinki and Vuosaari was established in the 19th century. Of military historical interest is that Russians built fortifications here in 1917. During the Second World War Vuosaari was used as a decoy Helsinki to divert the bombs away from the city. This was done by litting up big bonfires and concentrating anti-aircraft guns on the island. Later, during the fast construction phase in the 90's, this led to halts on building sites, as thud aerial bombs were discovered hidden in the ground.

After the war most of the lands in Vuosaari were owned by Oy Saseka Ab, a brick and stone company that had its factory on the island. Big lots of underdeveloped land at a close proximity to the capitol prompted Saseka to start a zoning and building process to increase the value of land there. The Asuntosäästäjät Union "(lit. apartment-savers)" started to built houses in the sixties, thus creating what colloquially is now known as the Old Vuosaari. Some of Finland's most famous architects participated in the planning, most notably Viljo Revell. Vuosaari was incorporated into Helsinki in 1966.

External links

* http://www.vuosaari.info/
* http://www.vuosaari.net/
* http://www.vuonet.fi/
* http://members.surfeu.fi/kribe/vs/
* http://vuosaari.org
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=60.208951,25.143070&spn=0.050640,0.170580&t=h&hl=en Vuosaari at Google Maps (Satellite photos/map)]