Pori, Regional capital in Satakunta, Finland
Pori is a city in Satakunta province, Finland, spreading along the Kokemäenjoki delta on the western coast. The settlement consists of several residential areas, commercial zones and parks distributed across a wide area between the river and the coastline.
Duke John of Finland founded this city in 1558 as a replacement for Ulvila after rising land blocked direct sea access. Over the centuries this location also moved closer to the coast several times as land uplift continued.
The name comes from the Swedish Björneborg, meaning bear castle, referring to the former fortress in the area. Today the city carries both names with equal status, with Finnish speakers using Pori and Swedish speakers continuing to use Björneborg.
Visitor facilities and services are concentrated in the central zone, while outer areas include residential neighborhoods and recreational spaces. The city can be explored on foot or using public transport, with distances between main points easy to cover.
Nine major fires have shaped how the city looks today, with the 1852 blaze being particularly destructive. After that event streets were laid out wider and many buildings constructed in stone, giving the present townscape its character.
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