Göteborg

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Port and industrial city (ships, vehicles, chemicals) on the west coast of Sweden, at the mouth of the Göta River; population (2003 est) 506,600, urban agglomeration 744,500. It is Sweden's second-largest city and its most important seaport; it is linked with Stockholm by the Göta Canal (built 1832). A major commercial centre, its industries include automobiles, ball bearings, and photographic equipment.

History
The city was founded in 1604 by Charles IX. It was then destroyed by the Danes in the Kalmar War, and was rebuilt in 1619 by King Gustavus Adolphus. It soon became a major commercial centre with large Dutch and English merchant colonies. The Swedish East India Company was founded here in 1731. By the early 20th century the port had become the terminus of an important transatlantic shipping service. The Göteborg System, a licensing system for the control of liquor sales, originated here.

There is a cathedral (1633), the University of Göteborg (1891), a technical university (1829), and several academies and museums.

Although often coloured yellow, the island is intended to be copper, reflecting the country's name, ‘Copper Island’. Effective date: c. September 1960. >>