Every design for Malax

Malax is known for its sea. Most of the municipality is water, out among the islands of Bergö and the archipelago of the Merenkurkku, where the land is still slowly rising from the Gulf of Bothnia. On shore the Malax å river runs down to the coast, and most people here speak Swedish.

The municipality lies on the Ostrobothnian coast close to Vaasa, with Korsnäs, Närpiö, Laihia and Mustasaari as its other neighbours. Its villages run from Yttermalax and Långåminne to Petalax, Norra Pörtom, Svarvar, Bergö and Övermalax. At the mouth of the Petolahdenjoki wide sandy shore meadows are slowly turning to reed beds, and three raised bogs inland, Kajaneskogen, Sanemossen and Kackurmossen, are protected as Natura sites. Iron Age cairns, cup stones and dwelling sites show how long people have lived along this shore.

In the centre, Kyrkparken takes its name from the wooden cross-shaped church drawn by Charles Bassi, and the Ilmatar sculpture keeps company with Köpingsparken and Malmparken. The coat of arms shows three lock plates for the three keys that once guarded the parish seal: one for Malax, one for Sulva and one for the vicar. Kyrkparken and its church are the fixed point on the map, and the part of Malax worth carrying with you.