Tampere (pronunciation, IPA: [ˈtɑmpɛrɛ]; Swedish: Tammerfors [tamərˈfɔrs]) is a city in southern Finland located between two lakes, Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. Since the two lakes differ in level by 18 metres, the Tammerkoski rapids linking them has been an important power source throughout history, most recently for generating electricity. Railway tracks from many parts of the nation meet at Tampere railway station, making it an important junction on the VR system. Tampere, with about 200,000 inhabitants in the city itself, and more than 300,000 including the neighbouring municipalities, is the second most important urban centre in Finland after the Helsinki region and the biggest inland city in the Nordic countries. In terms of population, Tampere is the third largest city in Finland, and the largest city outside the Greater Helsinki area.