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| Missing image Trollhättan_in_Sweden.png See also:Municipalities of Sweden | Coat of arms Missing image Trollhättan_City_Arms.png Trollhättan City Arms | |
| Seat | Trollhättan | |
| County | Västra Götaland | |
| Province | Westrogothia | |
| Area Rank | 412 km² 197th of 290 | |
| Population Rank | 53,154 (2005) 42th of 290 | |
| Density | 129/km² | |
The page covers both the municipality and the town Trollhättan
Trollhattefallen.jpg
Trollhättan Municipality is a Municipality in western Sweden where the City Trollhättan is the seat.
History
Trollhättan was founded by the river Göta älv, at a location with several waterfalls. The site was first mentioned in literature from 1413. For centuries, Trollhättan was an obstacle for the boats travelling the river, up until a lock system was completed in the 19th century. Is has since been updated several times and the present locks were finished in 1916.
In the late 19th century, hydropower was developed in Trollhättan. The Swedish energy corporation Vattenfall ("waterfall") took its name from the falls in Trollhättan. Today the city has two operational hydropower stations, Olidan and Håjum. The hydropower has helped the city in its industrial revolution.
The name "Trollhättan" comes from folkloristic tales. People believed that large trolls lived in the river Göta älv and that the islands in the river were the Trolls' hoods ("hättor"). Other former names of the site is Eidar and Stora Edet; the latter lives on in the name of the south-bordering municipality of Lilla Edet. The waterfall of Trollhättan has been theorized to be the Mimir's Well from the Norse mythology.
Trollhättan was granted city rights in 1916 at which time it had about 15,000 inhabitants.
Industries
Trollhättan houses a number of industries, foremost the main production sites for Saab Automobile and Volvo Aero. In the area, there is also a large number of suppliers to these two facilities. Historically Trollhättan housed the NOHAB industries who produced locomotives.
There is also a film production facility, known as Trollywood; movies shot there include Fucking Åmål, Dancer in the Dark and Dogville. The movie studio Film i Väst centered here produces about half of the Swedish full-length films.
External link
- Trollhättan (http://www.trollhattan.se/) - Official site