Das tongebiet von Loimaa und seine bodennutzung

Abstract

Using the intuitive method, the abundant occurrence of clay was chosen the most significant geographical feature of the area around the town of Loimaa. The borders of the region were set on the basis of the proportional distribution of the clay. The Clay Region of Loimaa, thus defined, has an area of 490 sq.km. It is a part of the clay region of Southwestern Finland.

The Clay Region of Loimaa differs from its immediate surroundings in some characteristics of the soil, the relative altitudes, the watercourses and in its climate and plant geography. Among the most important characteristics of the region are, in addition to the abundance of clay, the total absence of lakes and the flatness of the ground which is caused by the blanket of glacial clay.

Agriculture is the dominant form of land use in the region. Corn is mainly grown and, in relation to Finnish conditions, it is overproduced. The forests are very productive but their areal proportion is small.

The stiff glacial clay of Loimaa is good raw‑material for coarse ceramics. About 12 million drainpipes are annually produced in the local works.

The rather densely populated Clay Region of Loimaa forms a homogeneous geographical unit which cannot be divided into subregions.