KARLSKRONA

town and port, capital of the ln (county) of Blekinge, southern Sweden, on the Baltic coast. Founded by Charles XI in 1679 as a Baltic base, it has been Sweden's chief naval base ever since. Karlskrona was carefully planned as a city that would reflect Sweden's grandeur, and it remains an outstanding example of town planning in the Renaissance style. Among the notable buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries is the Admiralty Church (1685), the town's oldest building and the largest wooden church in Sweden. The fishing harbour is among the largest in Sweden. Other industries include the manufacture of telephones, porcelain, and hats. Pop. (1992 est.) mun., 59,279.