The Åland Islands, with over 300 small islands, have full autonomy but are closely connected to Finland. The islands have a rich history, including changing ownership many times due to their strategic position in the Baltic Sea. The islands are now a popular tourist attraction, known for their natural beauty and wildlife. They are accessible by small airport and boats, with inter-island ferries available for foot travellers.
The Åland Islands are a medium-sized archipelago with full autonomy, but closely connected to Finland. The islands cover 5,270 square miles (13,510 square km), making them somewhat smaller than Hawaii. The Åland Islands consist of more than 300 small islands, close to both Finland and Sweden.
Åland was first inhabited about 6000 years ago, with advanced cultures appearing around the 2nd millennium BC By the 10th century Åland had become significantly populated and engaged in trade with large parts of the Western world and the Middle East.
Due to the land islands’ strategic position in the Baltic Sea, especially their control of one of the main entrances to Stockholm Harbour, Åland Islands was the site of several ancient castles and fortresses. In the 14th century Finland took control of the islands and erected Kastelholm Castle.
Over the next several hundred years, the strategic importance of the islands to Russia, Finland, Denmark and Sweden meant that the islands changed ownership many times. In the early 19th century Sweden ceded control of the islands to Russia, which made them part of the Grand Duchy of Finland.
Russian control of the islands was a concern not only for Sweden, but also for Great Britain. Britain was engaged in a large amount of seaborne trade in the Baltic Sea and feared that if the Russians built a large military presence on Åland, if hostilities broke out, British trade would be severely hampered. The British spoke up, but Russia ignored their complaints, building a series of forts on the islands.
When the Crimean War broke out in the mid-19th century, the British and their French allies attacked Russian bases on Åland, destroying some of the major fortresses. Two years later it was agreed that Åland would remain demilitarized, effectively acting as a demilitarized maritime zone between Northern Europe and Russia.
In 1917, Finland declared its independence from Russia and the Åland Islands became part of the now sovereign nation of Finland. Sweden immediately reopened the question of the islands, pushing to have them ceded to them to be part of Sweden. The overwhelming majority of people on the island, who spoke Swedish and considered themselves Swedish in many ways, supported a move to Sweden, but Finland refused for strategic reasons. The matter was eventually referred to the new League of Nations, which decided that Åland should be granted full self-government, but remained a holding company of Finland. Swedish culture was allowed to flourish under the new autonomy, with Swedish as the sole national language and Swedish culture dominating the landscape.
The natural history of Åland Islands is their main attraction as a tourist attraction. There are literally hundreds of islands in the archipelago, and while only around 80 are inhabited, many of the others are home to beautiful wildlife and unspoilt landscapes. Many of the islands are protected natural areas, with well-maintained trails guiding visitors through beautiful meadows, rich pine forests and rugged cliffs to view the islands diverse flora and fauna, including many rare species of orchids.
A small airport connects Åland to both Sweden and Finland. Boats also connect the islands to the Finnish mainland and Sweden. Once on the islands, there are inter-island ferries that run regularly and are free for foot travellers.
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