Kvarken Archipelago World Heritage Site
The rocky Kvarken Archipelago, which is constantly on the rise, is Finland’s only natural heritage site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can experience this kingdom of rocks by wandering along the nature trails, canoeing, boating, fishing, watching birds,…
Kvarken Archipelago – Västra Norrskär
On the island there is a 21 meter high brick and stone lighthouse that was built in 1846. The island has a highly varied wildlife. In the summer new born water birds and gulls swim around in the small ponds.
Kvarken Archipelago – Valsörarna
The landscape is characterized by the rocky and bouldery moraines. The vegetation of the bleak moraine formations is mainly heath-like, but diverse. It is made up of marshy depressions, coastal fields, birch groves, junipers, beach alder groves, and large individual…
Kvarken Archipelago – Svedjehamn and Bodvattnet
Svedjehamn is a fishing harbour within a landscape dominated by De Geer moraine formations. Due to land uplift, the multifaceted wildlife in the area is constantly changing and producing different types of wetlands, such as flads, glo-lakes, and mires. There…
Kvarken Archipelago – Sommarö fortress
Sommarö area is a highly diverse and valuable forest. Between 1940 and 2000 the area functioned as an army depot and a coastal artillery fortress. There is a nature trail, lean-to shelter, a campfire spot and a good natural beach…
Kvarken Archipelago – Seal meat, blubber, train oil and skin
Compared to other food at the end of the Middle Ages, seal meat was extremely rich in energy, which was important for man’s thermal balance in the cold climate. Seal meat has also been used for medicinal purposes, and the…
Kvarken Archipelago – Seal hunting
Historically, seal hunting has been a very significant means of livelihood for the people living in the Kvarken archipelago. When the Gulf of Bothnia coast was populated, seal hunting and fishing provided a lifeline for the first permanent inhabitants.
Kvarken Archipelago – Molpehällorna
Molpehällorna, or the island of Moikipää is made up of several smaller islands that have grown together. The island has a roughly one kilometer long highly diverse nature trail. In the yard of an old coastguard station there is an…
Kvarken Archipelago – Mikkelinsaaret
In the islands one can visit ancient monuments, such as stone mazes (‘jatulintarha’), compass roses as well as fishing camp-and harbour relics, for example. The entire Mikkelinsaaret belong to a World Heritage Site and numerous cruses are organized there in…
Kvarken Archipelago – Making Fishing Equipment and Fish Preservation
The fisherman would sit by his campfire from early in the morning until late into the night, making new or repairing old fishing equipment. The task of the women was to comb, spin and wash the flax and hemp yarn…
