VASTERBOTTEN

ln (county), northern Sweden, extending from the Gulf of Bothnia west to the Norwegian border. Its area comprises the traditional landskap (province) of Vsterbotten and parts of ngermanland and Lappland. The terrain rises from the gulf through a forested upland zone and culminates in Mount Norra Stor (5,797 feet ) near the Norwegian frontier. Farming, lumbering, and mining are important economic activities in the ln. In the past much timber was floated down rivers to such coastal milling centres as Ume (q.v.), the capital and chief port, and Skellefte. Deposits of copper, lead, gold, silver, and bismuth mined at Boliden, Rvliden, and Kristineberg are refined at Rnnskr. Area 21,390 square miles (55,401 square km). Pop. (1992 est.) 253,835.