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Ostergotland, East Götaland, Götaland, unofficial flag (Sweden)

Östergötland, Östra Götaland, "Östgötaland"; Götaland

image by Jan Oskar Engene

Description of the flag

See also:

Description of the flag

The flag originated in 1972 and is yellow and blue in the proportions 10:16 (4-2-4 : 5-2-9). It has been used in tourist promotion during the 1980's. The colours are reversed compared to the national flag of Sweden. The colours can also be interpreted as blue for lakes and canals, and yellow for the fertile land.
Jan Oskar Engene, 12 March 1996

The blue cross is supposed to symbolise the lake Vättern and Göta canal.
Marcus Wendel, 15 August 1999

This flag has been used as an unofficial flag for Östergötland, but it seems as it has also been used as a symbol for Götaland as a whole or for all of eastern Götaland (östra Götaland or "Östgötaland"), which is the reason for the title of this page. It is presented as such in a booklet by Per Andersson: Nordiska korsflaggor, Bokförlaget Draking, Mjölby 1992.
This flag is more commonly considered to be the flag of just the province of Östergötland. It is so identified e.g. at the homepage of the County Board (länsstyrelsen) of the County of Östergötland, by Östsvenska turistrådet (East Swedish Tourist Council) and at Heraldica (a Scandinavian discussion board on heraldry) and at Swedish Wikipedia. Götaland consists of the following provinces: Blekinge, Bohuslän, Dalsland, Gotland, Halland, Scania (Skåne), Småland, Västergötland, Öland and Östergötland. Of these, Eastern Götaland would probably be considered to consist of Östergötland, the east part of Småland and the two island provinces Gotland and Öland.
Elias Granqvist, 27 July 2010