Lahti

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For other meanings, see Lahti (disambiguation).

**Lahden kaupunki**
Image:Lahden vaakuna.png
City	Lahti (1905)
Administrative Province	Southern Finland
Region	Päijänne Tavastia
Area - Total - Land - Water	154,51 km² 134,95 km² 19,56 km²
Population Density	98 349 (January 2005) 728/km²

Image:Lahti dot.PNG Lahti (Lahtis in Swedish) is a Finnish city of 98,253 inhabitants (2003), bordering the Vesijärvi lake. It became a city in 1905. Originally a part of Hollola, it has since grown considerably larger than its current neighbor. The symbol of the city is a burning train wheel. The terrain is unusually hilly, the city being situated on a series of ridges created in the last glacial period.

Lahti is best known for its annually held World Cup winter games called "Salpausselän kisat". The city endeavours for achievements in sport, which has led to such things as the hosting of a World Games event. The city also has an Association Football (soccer) club, FC Lahti, and an ice hockey team, the Lahti Pelicans. Lahti also has perhaps the best known symphony orchestra in Finland, Sinfonia Lahti. It concentrates on Sibelius's music.

It is also a significant railroad crossroad and the site of two enormous radio masts, which once were used for the longwave transmitter of the Finnish broadcasting company. Nowadays the former transmitter building holds a museum. Lahti also harbours cultural ambitions, and recent years saw the building of a large congress & concert center, the Sibelius Hall. This has sparked much controversy amongst the population, many of whom feel that the money used for these purposes would be better spent on health care and education.

Lahti has a lot to offer in the education sector. It has several vocational schools and a polytechnic with numerous schooling branches, including a renowned Institute Of Design.

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Status and Area

Town status granted 1905
Province South Finland
Region Päijät-Häme (Lahti Region)
Administrative status Regional capital
Population of municipality ca. 156 000
Population of region served ca. 222 000

AREA
- Total surface area 154.5 km²
- Land surface area 134.9 km²
- Water area 19.6 km²
- Area included in town plan 64.3 km²
- Population density /km² land 728