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Karlstad is a city (pop. 58,544) in Värmland, Sweden. It is the seat of Karlstad Municipality and the capital of Värmland County. Karlstad has a University and a Cathedral.

Karlstad is built on the river delta where Sweden's longest river, Klarälven, runs into Sweden's largest lake, Vänern. It has the second largest lake port in the country after Västerås.

Karlstad is often associated with sunshine and the symbol for Karlstad is a happy sun. Karlstad is reputed to be one of the sunniest town's in Sweden and a local waitress, known as "Sola i Karlstad" (Sun in Karlstad) for her sunny disposition is also commemorated with a statue.

Illustation of Karlstad's road network; its cathedral; the governor's residence

The peace monument erected on the city square on the 50th anniversary of the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden

On Karlstad's largest islet, there was a place of counsel called Tingvalla in the medieval age, which had roots from the Viking Age before 1000 AD. It was also used as a market place.

Karlstad was granted its city charter on March 5, 1584 by the Swedish Duke Charles, who would later be crowned King Charles IX of Sweden. The city derives its name from the King – Karlstad literally means Charles' city. The Duke also granted Karlstad the right as a governmental seat in the region, and gave it a substantial amount of land.

The Duke built his own house in the city, which is referred to as Kungsgården (The King's Manor). Karlstad's Cathedral was built on the location Kungsgården in 1724 - 1730 by Christian Haller.

A significant coup d'état of modern Swedish history had its roots in Karlstad. During the night of 7th March 1809, Georg Adlersparre used the part of the western army that was situated in Värmland to occupy Karlstad. From there he officially proclaimed a revolution, and during 9th March, he and his soldiers began their successful march toward the capital to end the reign of king Gustav IV Adolf.

Karlstad has suffered four major fires. Only the cathedral and a few houses remained after the last fire on July 2, 1865. Karlstad was thereafter rebuilt according to a grid pattern with wide streets surrounded by trees.

In 1905, the agreement to dissolve the union between Norway and Sweden was signed in Karlstad.

Karlstad Town Square

Ice hockey team Färjestads BK (home arena Löfbergs Lila Arena) has won the Swedish Championship several times, most recently in 2006.

Boltic-Göta is a bandy club formed in 2000 by the merger of two of the historically most successful bandy clubs in Sweden, IF Boltic and IF Karlstad-Göta. Their home arena, Tingvalla Isstadion, is claimed to be Europe's largest artificially frozen area.

OK Tyr is one of the largest orienteering clubs in Sweden. OK Tyr won Tiomila in 1989 and 1990.

IF Göta have a number of international athletes and host the annual athletics meet Götagalan. There is an outdoor athletics track at Tingvalla IP and an indoor track (200 m) in Våxnäshall. There are many sawdust jogging trails, some of which are lit.

Klarälvsbanan, a 90 km, asphalted railway line, runs from Karlstad to Hagfors. It is popular amongst cyclists, inlines skaters and roller skiers.

There are a large number of open-air bathing places, both in Vänern and other lakes in the municipality. Sundstabadet has a 25 m indoor swimming pool.

Fishing and watersports are popular activities.

Karlstad is also the home of Karlstads Rugby Klubb. American football team, Karlstad Crusaders, have achieved some notoriety by repeatedly reaching the the Swedish playoff final ... and losing.

The Swedish Rally, with world championship status, is held annually in Värmland and Karlstad is a regular host of start, finish and special stages.

Several upper secondary schools (gymnasium) offer the most common range of courses usually available throughout Sweden, including the IB Diploma Programme. The majority of students in Värmland need to commute or move to Karlstad for their upper secondary education. Tertiary education is offered by Karlstad University, which was granted university status in 1999.

• Official site

Karlstad is one of 134 towns with the historical City status in Sweden.

Coordinates: 59°23′N, 13°32′E