Vaskiluoto (Vasklot) is a diverse and distinctive district right by the centre of Vaasa. The island combines port and industrial functions, housing, tourism and extensive recreational areas. On Vaskiluoto you can live on the island, only three kilometres from the centre.
Vaskiluoto is located to the west of the centre. The island is connected to the centre by the Vaskiluoto causeway and to Sundom by the Myrgrund Bridge.
The area’s land use is unusually varied:
- about one third is industrial and port area
- about one third is residential and hotel areas
- about one third is local recreational areas
Boating is a characteristic mode of transport in Vaskiluoto. The area is home to several yacht clubs, and the guest harbour is an important part of Vaasa’s tourism. The nature and recreational areas serve both visitors and residents, offering popular routes for running and outdoor recreation.
The history of Vaskiluoto is closely linked to the development of Vaasa. In the early 19th century the island belonged to the lands of the village of Klemettilä, which the city purchased after the great fire of Vaasa in 1852. For a long time the area consisted only of forest and a few villas, but significant changes took place at the end of the 19th century.
As a result of land uplift, the city council decided in 1886 to move the outer harbour to Vaskiluoto. The outer harbour still operates there, and the Wasaline ferry route to Umeå departs from the port.
The railway was extended to the island in 1893. The island’s industrial development began with the Waasa sugar factory founded in 1897, which was an important employer. The factory led to the construction of residential buildings that have survived to the present day. Former factory buildings also recall Vaskiluoto’s industrial history.
In 2022 Wärtsilä opened a new Sustainable Technology Hub in Vaskiluoto, which serves as a research, product development and production centre. The company’s other operations are also now concentrated in Vaskiluoto.