Oskarshamns Kommun

The largest cluster of islands is located in the archipelago Misterhult in the extreme north of the municipality Oskarshamn, which is a large nature reserve with a total area of 8,500 hectares. It extends from Blankaholm in the south of the neighboring municipality Västervik to the nuclear power plant Oskarshamn near Simpevarp.

The landscape in Oskarshamns Kommun shows the typical characteristics of the Swedish east coast with a rugged coast and rocky elevations reaching the shore. The hinterland is flatter in a westerly direction, is predominantly densely wooded and interspersed with about 230 lakes, which invite for swimming, boating and fishing. The largest lake in the region is the 5.5 square kilometer large, 61 meters deep and fish-rich Hummeln near Kristdala.

Large parts of nature within the region are particularly protected, as can be seen from the relatively large number of nature reserves, 30 in number. A comprehensive insight into the varied nature and landscape as well as the regional cultural history is also gained on a hike over the Ostkustleden, a 160-kilometer circular trail that leads through the different regions within the municipality.

The city Oskarshamn is the administrative center of the municipality a rather tranquil town. Within the city center are shops and a small shopping arcade, while some supermarkets have settled on the periphery. Restaurants and cafés are located mainly near the two marketplaces Stora- and Lilla Torget as well as in the harbor area.

Today's city center was built towards the end of the 19th century on a large cliff above the harbor. The oldest remaining buildings with cobblestone streets and picturesque wooden houses from the 19th century is located in the small district Besväret och Fnyket, on the edge of the cliff between market square and harbor.

The relatively large harbor is both an important trading port for national and international trade, as well as the main ferry port for connection to the island Gotland. During the summer, Oskarshamn is the only port on the mainland that has a daily connection with the national park Blå Jungfrun, an island in the Kalmar Sound.

One of Sweden's best-known historical artists, woodcarver Axel Robert Petersson (1868–1925), better known as Döderhultarn, lived in the Oskarshamn region. More than 200 of his unmistakable works, rather crude but still life-like sculptures of humans and animals in different life situations, can be found in the Döderhultarmuseum in Oskarshamn.

In the entire Oskarshamns Kommun live about 27,000 people in an area of almost 1,100 square kilometers. The population density of 25.7 inhabitants per square kilometer is a bit above the national average.

The vast majority of inhabitants focuses on the few localities in the municipality. By far the most, about 18,000 inhabitants, live in the city of Oskarshamn alone, followed by Påskallavik and Kristdala, each with about 1,000 inhabitants.