The ferry goes through the rugged but beautiful Merenkurkku archipelago to Vaasa in four hours. The ship service has been there for hundreds of years. People have maintained the connection between Sweden and Finland both in times of war and peace. King Kaarle IX founded the city of Vaasa in 1606 close to the trading center by Kyrönjoki-river. The colorful history includes flourishing shipping and trade as well as times of great destruction. After the city burned in 1852 it was moved to the present location because of better shipping channels and the harbor. The school system goes back to the 17th century as the Trivial school was established. Today Vaasa is a significant, bilingual location for universities and institutions of higher education. The number of students is about 12.000. ABB, Wärtsilä NSD, Kemira and the KWH concern are good examples of high production in electric, machinery and chemicals with world-wide markets. The bilingual population in Vaasa and Mustasaari has got a variety of both common and specialized cultural offerings. Good examples of the bilingual cooperation in physical exercise and sports are the Botnia Hall with full-sized athletics and football fields and the new Ice Sports Center with several ice-hockey rinks. Raippaluoto bridge, the longest bridge in Finland, joins the Mustasaari archipelago with the mainland. The height of the bridge is about 30 meters due to the shipping channel below. The landscape in SOUTH OSTROBOTHNIA is fertile plain split by the rivers that flow to Pohjanlahti. The rivers have served as routes for journeys and transportation over the years. Goods traveled from the inland to the trading places at the coast and further by sea all over the world. Tar, furs and grain were initially the most important export goods. In spite of the development grain has maintained its position as an export article. It has even increased its market value, though refined and under the name "Koskenkorva". There are both sparsely populated agriculture and densely populated village communities in the country side. The traditional houses in OSTROBOTHNIA are red, made of wood with one or two floors, lot of windows and are situated by the riverbanks. In addition to the wooden architecture there are also monumental buildings for administration, school system and public health service in Lapua and Alajärvi. For example the city hall in Alajärvi was designed by the world famous architect Alvar Aalto . In addition to the public administration industrial production, trade and service trade industry have all done well in OSTROBOTHNIA. The decision makers take good care of improving the preconditions of business and economy especially now that the EU-term has begun. Central-Finland with its lakes and ridges represents the most beautiful part of Finland. Different industries, like mechanical processing of wood, have grown due to good natural resources in the province. Honkarakenne, worlds biggest manufacturer of log houses is situated in Karstula. Honkarakenne as well as Viitapuu ltd, a door manufacturer in Viitasaari export most of their production. Lakes, lake routes, nature activities and accommodation are of high standards both in the countryside and cities close to the nature. They offer the best circumstances for living to the local people and attract city dwellers to spend time in the clean environment. The free time and training center Piispala in Kannonkoski and the multipurpose holiday village Lomakouhero in Karstula offer many-sided activities to both families and groups. In 1997-98 Lomakouhero was chosen the best place to dance in Finland. In the province of Savo you might bump into a humorous local inhabitant with a Kalakukko, traditional specialty in his rucksack. Many restaurants serve local vines, liqueurs and dishes. Kuopio, population 86000, is one of the biggest city in the district. The university of Kuopio has many applications in high technology. The steamship cruises, the Puijo tower and the market place are things you don´t want to miss. The center of Orthodoxy in Finland and the church of Saint Nikolaus are also situated in Kuopio.The multiple cultural offerings include theatre, music, dance and even the international Wine Festival. Further east is the province of Karelia which among other things is famous for the Finnish national epic Kalevala. You can get acquainted with Orthodoxy in the monastery of Uusi-Valamo in Heinävesi. You can also get to know the Karelian tradition in Carelicum, the center of culture and museum in Joensuu. The university city is an important center for commerce and industry. You can go on outings to the beautiful province, enjoy theatrical and musical performances and culinary delicacies. There is a boat route from Joensuu to Saimaa, lake Pielinen and all the way to the Baltic Sea. You can also canoe to Sortavala, lake Laatokka or Ilomatsi, the most eastern part of Finland. Should you choose it is possible to go along "the Road of Poetry and Boarder" before crossing the boarder.