The Port of Kalmar is located off the Baltic Sea at Kalmar Sound that separates the island of Oland from southeast mainland Sweden. Occupying both the mainland and two small islands, the Port of Kalmar is the capital of Ian County, some 82 kilometers northeast of the Port of Karlskrona and about 350 kilometers southwest of Stockholm. In 2005, almost 61 thousand people lived in the Port of Kalmar, and over 233 thousand called Kalmar urban area home.

The Port of Kalmar is conducting a program to reduce its use of fossil fuel. A local trucking company has cut its use of diesel by 10%, paying for the cost of fuel-tracking devices within the first year. Once releasing steam and hot water to the environment as waste, the wood pulp plant now uses the waste to generate electricity and to heat homes. Bicycle lanes are used liberally throughout the Port of Kalmar, building codes call for thermal insulation and windows, and car dealers are promoting hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles.

Archaeological evidence suggests that people have lied in the around the Port of Kalmar for thousands of years. Remains of Stone Age graveyards have been discovered.

A folk tale from the Middle Ages says that Saint Olav, Norway’s patron saint, moved his ships to the Port of Kalmar. The city’s seal, created in the middle 13th Century, is Scandinavia’s oldest known city seal. The foundations of Castle Kalmar were laid in the 12th Century when a round tower was constructed, and the town continued to grow through the 13th Century. Queen Margaret gathered heads of state from Norway and Sweden in the Port of Kalmar to sign the Kalmar Union Treaty.

When the provinces of Halland, Blekinge, and Scania were part of Denmark in the 16th Century, the Port of Kalmar was located near Denmark, and its harbor and merchants benefitted from that proximity despite conflict. Two tragic events are called “Kalmar bloodbath.” The first, in 1505, the mayor and city council of the Port of Kalmar were executed by order of King John of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. In 1599, the future King Charles IX of Sweden gave the orders for the second bloodbath in the Port of Kalmar.

During the 1540s, Sweden’s first King Gustav Vasa began rebuilding the Castle Kalmar into a beautiful Renaissance-style palace. His sons, Erick XIV and John III of Sweden continued the reconstruction.

In 1602, Kalmar was made a diocese, a status that continued into the early 20th Century. The Kalmar War began in 1611 when the Danes laid siege to Castle Kalmar, which has been the site of many battles during that century. In the 1670s, the last siege of Castle Kalmar failed.

The 1658 Treaty of Roskilde moved the border between Sweden and Denmark further south, and the Port of Kalmar lost some of its strategic importance. After the King located Sweden’s main naval base in nearby Karlskrona in 1689, Kalmar lost its status as a major military center.

The Kalmar Port AB, the Kalmar Port Administration, is the port authority for the Port of Kalmar when the earlier port management merged with Kalmar Stufveri AB. Kalmar Municipality Company AB is the sole owner of the Port of Kalmar, and it provides port facilities and services. The Port of Kalmar strives to give customers affordable, reliable, and flexible service of the highest quality.

Kalmar Port AB is responsible for coordinating shipping and goods traffic in the Port of Kalmar; operating cranes and other cargo-handling equipment; providing utilities and services to customers; and developing and maintaining port infrastructure and equipment.

The Port of Kalmar receives about 700 vessels and handles about a million tons of cargo each year.

The Port of Kalmar covers about 100 hectares. Its three kilometers of wharves offer a maximum of 8 meters in depth, and the Port of Kalmar has 10 thousand square meters of warehouse space.

The City of Kalmar (Swedish) is one of Sweden’s oldest cities, and it is an interesting town. The city wall that was built in the 12th Century is well-preserved. The Port of Kalmar also has a beautiful and tranquil city park. Visitors to the Port of Kalmar will not want to miss these major sights.

The 12th Century Kalmar Castle once protected the city from pirates and other enemies. As the harbor grew so did the fortification. Sweden’s kings Gustav Vasa and Erik XIV gave Castle Kalmar its modern appearance during the 16th Century. The last king to live in the Port of Kalmar‘s castle was Charles XI, who ruled from 1673 to 1692.

The Kalmar County Museum has many interesting exhibits. Jenny Nystrom, a Port of Kalmar native, became one of the most popular illustrators in Sweden. A museum exhibit tells the story of her life and displays some of her works. The museum also has an exhibit describing their 20-year investigation of the Royal Ship Kronan, an under-sea archaeological site in the Baltic Sea. The Kronan is the biggest ship from Sweden’s 17th Century golden age. In 2005, a wicker chest was found buried at the shipwreck site of the Kronan. On bringing the chest to the surface, it was found to contain more than 6400 silver coins, about 800 buttons, and a man’s dress, all of which are on display at the museum.

Salve Town (Swedish) in the Port of Kalmar is an experience in life during the Middle Ages. A queen’s herald at the village market tells visitors about a normal day in 1397. Visitors can wear period clothing and participate in the work of the village, even trying some medieval archery or painting while listening to period music. They can also prepare their own medieval meals and learn about the herbs and medicines of the day.

Travelers who want to see the Port of Kalmar by sea can find a list of scheduled cruises on the Cruise Compete website.