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The unique seascape of the Åland Islands captures the imagination of everyone who sees it for the first time. The picturesque skerry landscape, mild climate and a large number of sunny days a year attract many holidaymakers to the Åland Islands. And thanks to the soils, which are rich in limestone, a flora has formed here that is rather not typical for Scandinavia: oaks, ash trees, maples, elms and lindens and various types of orchids.

People began settling on the islands around 4200 BC. e., and for many centuries the islands were a “bridge” between Finland and Sweden, and the population of Åland was constantly increasing. During the Northern War, the islands, together with Finland, went to Russia in 1809, and in 1921 they were again transferred to Finland with the rights of a self-governing zone. In 1954, the Åland Islands received their own flag (red cross in a yellow field on a blue background); The official language on the islands is Swedish. They have been issuing their own postage stamps here since 1984. (Finnish stamps are not valid). Ålanders are proud of their special status and do not like to be called Finns. The main occupations of the Ålanders are shipping, vegetable growing and the tourism industry. After the abolition of duty-free trade in EU countries, the Åland Islands remain the only tax-free oasis in Europe.

On the Åland Islands you can see the oldest churches in Finland, see traces of ancient agriculture and buildings from the 12th century. Many ships were shipwrecked here, the most famous being the Vrou Maria, a Dutch ship loaded with treasures acquired by Catherine the Great. In 1999, the exact location of the shipwreck was finally discovered.

Turku is the oldest city in Finland, the largest port, and the former capital. It's an excellent base for visiting the islands, especially if you're traveling by bike, as free ferries run constantly between the islands, a true marvel of public transport. Here you can also observe a variety of flora and fauna, including seabirds, moose, seals, while experiencing the rural charm of the inner islands and giant lighthouses.

What to see on the Åland Islands

Mariehamn

Mariehamn or Mariehamn (11 thousand inhabitants, or 40% of the total population of the islands)- the main city of the islands. The city of a thousand linden trees in the south of the archipelago was founded in 1861 by Russian Emperor Alexander II and named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Since 1889, Mariehamn has been a popular seaside resort; now it is the administrative and industrial center of Åland. The magnificent 1000 m long Norra Esplanadgatan street connects the Western and Eastern ports. Don't ignore the old Marine Quarter.

On Storagatan - the Museum of the Åland Islands with a rich archaeological collection; The cultural history of the region is also well represented. In the same building there is an art museum (Opening hours: daily 10.00-16.00, Tue. 10.00-20.00).

A maritime museum has been opened in the Western Port - its building resembles a ship (Opening hours: May-June, Aug. 9.00-17.00, July 9.00-19.00, other times 10.00-16.00). In the same port, the sailing ship "Pommern" is anchored - now a museum. Four-masted barque (95 m long)- the symbol of the city. From 1903 to 1952 he transported grain from Australia to England (Opening hours: May-Aug. 9.00-17.00, July 9.00-19.00, Sep.-October 10.00-16.00.)

Ramsholmen

3 km west of Mariehamn lies the beautiful Ramsholmen nature reserve (Ramsholmen). Here you can find species of meadow and shrub plants typical of the Åland Islands.

Kastelholm Fortress

23 km northeast of Mariehamn stands the Kastelholm fortress (Kastelholm). The first written mention of it occurs in 1388. Until 1634, “Northern Gibraltar” was the residence of the governor of Åland. In 1507, the Danish fleet destroyed the castle, and in the middle of the 18th century. The castle was damaged by fire. Today it has been restored and is open for inspection. (Opening hours: May, June, early-mid August 10.00-17.00, July 10.00-17.30, mid-Aug.-Sept. 10.00-16.30).

Jan Karl's estate

Not far from Kastelholm - open-air museum "Jan Karl's Estate" ("Jan Karlsgarden"). Museum visitors get acquainted with the traditional way of life of local peasants, and can also look into the historical prison of the 18th century. "Vita Bjorn" (Polar bear). Opening hours: May-Sept. 10.00-17.00.

Sund

A little further north of Kastelholm in Sunda (Sund) stands the stone church of St. John the Baptist (XIII century) with wooden sculptures. Not far from it in the forest are the ruins of the Viking fortress Borgboda (Borgboda).

Bomarsund

To the east of Kastelholm (11 km) stands the Bomarsund fortress, built by the Russians in 1832-1854. The fortress was intended as a powerful citadel of the Russian Empire, but during the Crimean War it was destroyed in 1854. Information about the fortress can be obtained at the Pilot's House on the island of Prasto. Opening hours: May-Ser. Aug. Tue-Sun 10.00-15.00.

Saltvik

North of Mariehamn (23 km along the highway through Jomala, before Kastelholm turn left) we will find Saltvik (Saltvik). The local church of St. Mary is one of the oldest on the islands. Of greatest interest are the baptismal font made of Gotlandic limestone, the triumphal cross and the altar chest (XV century)

Orrdalsklint

Northeast of Saltvik - Orrdalsklint (Orrdalsklint), highest place (129 m above sea level) islands. A wonderful view also opens from the Kasberg hill north of Saltvik.

Finström

20 km north of Mariehamn (after Jomala turn left) Finström municipality is located (Finstrom) centered in Godby (Godby). In the Church of St. Michael (13th century) frescoes from the 15th century have been preserved.

Geta

Another 21 km north of Godby - and we are in the northernmost commune of Göta on the Åland Islands (Geta). Mount Soltuna, the second highest, offers beautiful views.

Hammarland

21 km northwest of Mariehamn stands the Church of St. Katharina in Hammarland (XIII century). In Skarpnato commune Hammarland (Hammarland) A local history museum has been opened. The peasant buildings of the 18th century are interesting. and ancient windmills.

Eckero

In Storby under Eckero in the old post office building (1897) There is a postal museum. Among the exhibits there are even postal boats, on which the royal mail was delivered to Stockholm until 1910. Opening hours: May-Ser. June, mid. Aug.-Mid. Sep. 10.00-16.00, midday June-September Aug. 10.00-18.00.

Every year in June a traditional post boat race is held here. (40 km) along the Gulf of Bothnia - to Grisslehamn (Sweden).

The Hunting and Fishing Museum tells about the conditions of former life on the islands (Karingsund, Eckero).

Lemland

Municipality of Lemland (Lemland) is located on an island 15 km southeast of Mariehamn. Near the ruins of St. Olaf's maritime chapel (XIII century)- an ancient Viking cemetery, the largest in Åland. The former Viking sanctuary is a stone labyrinth. Historic Pellas Shipowners' House Museum (1884) open: midday June-September Aug.

Kökar

To the town of Kökar (kokar, 300 inhabitants, guest ports Sandvik and Hellso)- a true paradise for sailing enthusiasts - accessible by ferry from Cogro (74 km southwest of Turku) and Langnas (28 km east of Mariehamn). It is worth visiting the church made of gray wacca, built on the ruins of a Franciscan monastery (XIV century). A small local history museum has been opened in Kökar; There are hotels, a restaurant and a campsite.

  • Where to stay: Turku hotels are suitable for both those who come to get to know this important port city for Finland, and those who are going to make forays around the area. There is housing here for every budget. Although in neighboring Pori and Rauma there is also shelter for the traveler. If you want isolation and curiosity (holidays on islands in the northern seas - that sounds right!) - welcome to Åland Islands. Most of the hotels here are in Mariehamn, the capital of the archipelago. Naantli is worth a stop for those who are purposefully going to visit the Moomintrolls. There won’t be any problems with spending the night in Vaasa either; if you’ve made it this far, then stay here for a few days, the town is worth it.
  • What to see: The main attraction of Naantli is the Moomin Valley theme park. Off-season we enjoy the spa. Vaasa bears the title of “the cultural heart of Ostrobothnia” - museums, exhibitions, music festivals, arts night and even its own city orchestra. Bonus: the Wassalandia amusement park and the Tropiclandia water park. Venerable Rauma attracts with its tranquility, antiquity and history of the sea. And, of course, wine festivals in the summer. Åland Islands - “The Pearl of Scandinavia”. This is a place for avid fishermen to go on vacation. During the break between bites, we explore the medieval castle of Kastelholm, Viking burial mounds and other antiquities. Well, Turku is a city for a complete vacation. There is nature, architecture, various festivals and museums, shopping, delicious food. One of the must-see places is Abo Castle.
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The Åland Islands are undoubtedly one of the most amazing and mysterious corners of Finland. If you have already traveled all over mainland Finland or think that Finnish cities will not surprise you, then be sure to visit this peaceful archipelago in the Baltic Sea.

Sights of the Åland Islands of Finland

Architecture and museums

One of the most interesting sights of the capital of the Åland Islands, the city of Mariehamn, is the four-masted sailing ship Pommern (the only ship of this type in the world that has survived to this day). By the first half of the last century, this ship managed to travel halfway around the world (they say it crossed the equator 60 times) and by the end of its journey it ended up in Åland. Fortunately, the inhabitants of the islands did not dismantle it for parts, but organized a museum here: today anyone can board the sailing ship, examine the decks, holds, cabins of the captain, assistants, cook and steward, as well as visit the galley (ship's kitchen) and finally see a short film about the history of the ship.

Address: Västerhamn 22100.

Maritime Museum

Very close to the legendary sailing ship is the Maritime Museum - a place that is definitely worth visiting for anyone who is partial to legends about pirates and exciting stories about sea adventures. Here there is an exhibition telling about the life of sailors, a magnificent model of a ship, as well as a real pirate flag, under which the sea wolves of the 18th century robbed. After viewing the exhibition, you can walk around the museum’s courtyard, where sculptural compositions on a marine theme are located.

Address: Hamngatan 2.
Opening hours: daily from 11.00 to 16.00.
From June to August: from 10.00 to 17.00
Ticket prices: adult – 10 euros, children (7-17 years old), students and pensioners – 6 euros, children under 7 years old – free. Groups of 10 people: adults – 8 euros, students and pensioners – 4.80 euros per person.
The ticket includes two visits to the museum.

This is a museum telling about the history, life and culture of the Åland Islands. The permanent exhibition includes eight sections: people, sea, autonomy, city, society, hunting and fishing, war and agriculture. You will learn a lot about the life of the islands in the Bronze and Stone Ages, as well as about the migration of the first people to these places. The museum also has exhibits dedicated to the Viking times, as well as the replacement of Scandinavian paganism with Christianity, about the life of the islands in the Middle Ages, and then in the 18th-19th centuries, and, finally, about the events of the 20th century and gaining autonomy.

Address: Storagatan 1.
Opening hours:
From May to August: daily from 10.00 to 17.00
Ticket prices:

Åland Art Museum

The art museum is located in the main museum building: here you will see unique collections of paintings, sculptures and graphics created by masters of the Åland Islands.

Address: Storagatan 1.
Opening hours: Tue – Sun from 11.00 to 17.00, Thu – from 11.00 to 20.00
From May to August: daily from 10.00 to 17.00
Ticket prices: adult – 8 euros, children 7-17 years old – 5 euros, students and pensioners – 5 euros, group of 10 people – 5 euros
Free entry on the first Thursday of every month.

Kastelholm

On the islands you can also see a real medieval castle, the first mention of which dates back to the end of the 14th century. This complex architectural structure is located among the magnificent Finnish forests and will definitely appeal to those who don’t mind climbing spiral staircases and countless passages, looking into the loopholes and admiring real knight’s armor.

Address: Kastelholms Slott 22520.
Opening hours: May, June, August – daily from 10.00 to 17.00

Bomarsund is a 19th-century Russian fortress located on the so-called “Island of the Dead”. Our compatriots built it since 1832, but the squadrons of France and England destroyed the structure in 1854. Now it is in a state of ruins, but it is worth a visit to see the beautiful brickwork and muzzles of Russian cannons on the dilapidated walls. There are also great views from here, especially from Nutvik Tower.

Address: Bomarsund 22530.

Prison Vita Bjorn

This is undoubtedly one of the most mysterious places on the Åland Islands: the prison museum is located near Kastelholm Castle and is the site of an exhibition telling about the penal system from the 18th century until 1950. The building itself was built in the 18th century and was divided into two parts: the jailer and his family lived in one, and the cells were located in the second.

Address: Kastelholm 22520.
The museum is open to visitors only in the summer season; for off-season visits, order by phone +358 457 3500 558
Working hours: May, June, August - daily from 10.00 to 17.00
July – daily from 10.00 to 18.00
From September 1 to September 16 - daily from 10.00 to 17.00.
Ticket prices: adults – 6 euros, children from 7 to 17 years old – 4.5 euros, students and pensioners – 4.50 euros

Natural attractions

Svetlana Shirokova

We listen to the request:

"I would like to know more about the Åland Islands, the capital of the islands, Marienhamn, as well as about the Archipelago Sea."

So, move on to the unknown!

The Åland Islands are located between Sweden and Finland at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. The region's population is about 27,000 people, more than 90% of whom are Swedes. James Barros in his book divides the history of the islands into three main periods:

1. Control of Sweden (1157 - 1809);
2. Control of Russia (1809 - 1917);
3. Control of Finland (since 1917).

Due to the strategic location of the islands, the Åland Islands have been the subject of geopolitical games by several major powers for many centuries. In 1714, during the reign of Peter the Great, the region was occupied, albeit for a short period, by the Russian Empire. Over the following years, Russia and Sweden repeatedly fought for control of the region, which constantly passed from one empire to another. Only after the military campaign of 1808-1809 did Russia eventually manage to establish control over the Åland Islands and a number of Finnish regions, which were under Swedish control at that time.

The Åland Islands are located in the Archipelago Sea (Finnish: Saaristomeri, Swedish: Skärgårdshavet). It is the part of the Baltic Sea between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland within Finnish territorial waters.

The Archipelago Sea includes a huge number of islands. The exact number depends on the definition of the term "island", as land masses range from small rocks poking out of the water to large islands with several villages or even a city on them. There are 257 islands in the Archipelago Sea with an area greater than 1 km² and about 18,000 islands with an area greater than 0.5 hectares. Including smaller uninhabited rocks and skerries, the archipelago includes more than 50,000 islands (for comparison, the number of islands in the Indonesian archipelago ranges from 13,000 to 18,000). The territory of the archipelago is roughly divided into internal and external groups of islands. The outer group consists mainly of small uninhabited islands. The archipelago occupies a triangular area with the cities of Mariehamn, Uusikaupunki and Hanko at the corners.


The islands began to rise from the water immediately after the last ice age. Due to the post-glacial rise of land, the process is still ongoing, new skerries and islands are formed, old ones increase in size or merge. The current rate of rise is between 4 and 10 millimeters per year. Since the islands are mainly composed of granite and gneiss, two very hard rocks, the rate of erosion is much less than the rate of uplift.

Barros in his book describes how Swedish diplomats “in vain insisted on the fact that the Åland Islands have always been a province of Sweden,” to which Russian diplomats responded that “we are now occupied not with the old borders of Sweden, but with the new borders of the Russian Empire.” According to Barros, "by using the Åland Islands as a military base against Sweden, the Russians were well aware of the strategic importance in terms of the defense of Finland, as well as the establishment of control in the Baltic Sea."


According to the Treaty of Fredrikshamn (September 17, 1809), the Åland Islands, as well as a number of territories of modern Finland, ceded to Russia. The issue of militarization or demilitarization of the Åland Islands was constantly on the agenda of Russian-Swedish negotiations throughout the 19th century. Sweden demanded the neutralization of the islands “as an independent state under the protectorate of France, England and Sweden,” and this demand was supported by Great Britain, but was rejected by Russia.

Mariehamn - translated from Swedish - “Mary's harbor”. Alexander II named the city in honor of his wife. Mariehamn has two ports, a sailing ship-museum, a steamboat-restaurant, modern high-speed yachts and cruise ships. The islanders call Mary their godmother, although they know little about her. Probably because the Empress herself had never been to the city that was named after her.

In 1856, Russia, France, and Great Britain signed the "Convention for the Demilitarization of the Åland Islands," which ended the debate until at least the collapse of the Swedish-Norwegian alliance in 1905. In 1907, in exchange for recognition of Norwegian independence, Russia demanded the annulment of the 1856 convention, which would allow Russia to station its troops on the islands. However, when Russia publicly voiced a proposal to annul the 1856 convention, it caused an uproar in Sweden and Great Britain, and the issue was taken off the agenda for some time.

During the First World War, Germany promised to return the Åland Islands to Sweden, but in exchange demanded Sweden's allied participation in the war. But Stockholm remained neutral and demanded that the Åland Islands be turned into a neutral zone. At the same time, Russia, knowing that Germany was preparing to occupy the islands, was preparing military forces for confrontation. In a letter to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Sazonov on January 1, 1915, the Minister of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ivan Grigorovich, emphasized the importance of the islands for Russia. “The entire territory is of strategic importance, so one of the main tasks of the navy is to keep the islands under strict Russian control.”


A turning point began for the Åland Islands with the fall of the Tsarist government in Russia, the establishment of the Provisional Government, and then the coming to power of the Bolsheviks.

After the fall of the monarchy in Russia, representatives of the Åland province-communes gathered in Mariehamn to jointly begin work on reunification with their old fatherland - Sweden. A request was made to the Swedish king and government to take Åland under their protection. By December 1917, signatures had been collected from almost the entire adult population of the Åland Islands.

During this period, Finland demanded independence from Russia, and in Sweden demands for the unification of Sweden with the Åland Islands intensified.

On December 6, 1917, Finland declared itself an independent republic (self-proclaimed, as we would say now) and denied Åland their right to self-determination, understood as joining Sweden. At the same time, Aland was still promised self-government. In May 1920, the Finnish parliament passed a law on Åland self-government. The Alanders met this law with hostility. In the Åland parliament, elected back in 1918, heated debates took place, ending with the two leaders Sundblom and Berkman being arrested on charges of treason.

England intervened in the matter, proposing to refer the issue to the League of Nations. On May 24, 1921, the League decided on Finnish sovereignty over Åland, but recommended that it give the Ålanders legislative guarantees of self-government, demilitarization and neutrality. Three days later, Sweden, reluctantly, signed the so-called Åland Treaty with Finland.

Finnish independence

In August 1917, the Ålanders held a secret assembly at which the issue of unification with Sweden was discussed. “A four-person delegation was formed with a mandate to convey to the Swedish government and parliament the deep desire of the Åland Islands to reunite with the Kingdom of Sweden for a number of special reasons,” writes Barros. From December 25 to 29, the population of the Åland Islands held a kind of referendum and signed a petition to King Gustav of Sweden calling for unification. This message strengthened the position of Swedish political groups that advocated the immediate occupation of the Åland Islands.


Taking advantage of the weakening position of Russia, King Gustav sent a message to Germany, Austria and Turkey demanding that the issue of the Åland Islands be considered during peace negotiations with Russia in Brest-Litovsk in order to “protect the vital interests of Sweden in these islands.” Germany offered Sweden its assistance in negotiations with the Bolsheviks on the issue of annexing the islands to Sweden. At the same time, Germany put forward a number of conditions: Sweden had to “allow the inhabitants of the islands to determine their future fate in a referendum, not build any fortified outposts or bases on the islands, not transfer the islands to any third party, and also begin negotiations to increase exports iron ore from Sweden to Germany after the war."


However, on January 4, 1918, Russia recognized the independence of Finland. It is surprising that, ahead of other European states, Sweden recognized Finnish independence on the same day. Subsequently, Helsinki will more than once use the argument that “Sweden and other states, by recognizing the independence of Finland without any preconditions, actually recognized the Åland Islands as a sovereign part of Finland.”

A few weeks after the recognition of Finnish independence, civil war began in this country. While King Gustav tried to take cautious steps and avoid direct confrontation with Finland, the Swedish opposition demanded immediate control of the islands. Soon after this, Sweden sent ships of its fleet and occupied the Åland Islands. Subsequently, German troops established control over the entire territory of Finland, including the Åland Islands.

Status of the Åland Islands

Finnish independence did not solve the problem of the Åland Islands, and negotiations between Finland and Sweden, as well as negotiations between the superpowers and Russia, continued. Helsinki accused Stockholm of interfering in its internal affairs by supporting the islanders in their desire to unite with Sweden. This increased tension between the two states. The Finnish government has notified residents of the islands that it "guarantees the complete security of the islands and urgently requests residents to avoid actions that could damage the territorial integrity of Finland, as such actions will be severely suppressed."

"In the spring of 1918, Stockholm advised the inhabitants of the islands that independence could only be achieved by building their own institutions of self-government, and by preparing for a plebiscite at the right time regarding separation from Finland and annexation to Sweden."


At some point, speculation arose that Finland was considering the possibility of a “territorial exchange” by transferring the Åland Islands to Sweden and receiving the territory of Eastern Karelia in return. However, these speculations were refuted by a special statement from the Finnish government. Instead, Finland offered the islanders a high status of autonomy within Finland.

Negotiations between Stockholm and Helsinki did not produce results, and the parties agreed to transfer consideration of the issue of the status of the Åland Islands to the League of Nations. While the superpowers tried to mediate, the situation in both Sweden and Finland worsened. Public opinion in both countries hardened and demanded an immediate solution to the issue of the status of the islands. As a result, the League of Nations created two special commissions to resolve the issue of the islands. The first commission was to comprehensively study the political, legal and historical aspects of the Åland problem and propose possible solutions. The task of the second commission was to develop specific recommendations and draw up a peace agreement.


After hearing the arguments of both sides and conducting its own research, the first commission (commission of lawyers) concluded that “the fundamental issue is a legal one, namely the right of Finland to sovereignty over the Åland Islands. It is necessary to discuss the question of whether Finland was a sovereign state after the collapse of its union with Tsarist Russia and whether its sovereignty extends to the islands in the same way as to other parts of Finland" (Article 314). Regarding the issue of Finland's right to the Åland Islands, the commission concluded that "the independence of Finland in 1917, which was recognized by other states, included the islands." This means that "Finland's sovereignty over the Åland Islands was not subject to dispute and the islands legally became part of the Finnish state."

The issue of the primacy of the territorial integrity of the state over the right of minorities to self-determination, which is still relevant today, was also discussed by the League of Nations commission. Question: “Is it possible to recognize as absolute the right of a minority to secede for the purpose of further unification with another state or declaring independence?” was raised in the commission's report. Quoting the commission's report, Barros writes: "To give in to the demands of any minority (whether linguistic, religious or otherwise) for separation from the community to which they belong, simply because it is their desire, would be a clear destruction of order and stability within the state and would give rise to anarchy in international life."


As a result, the commission of lawyers made the following recommendations regarding the status of the Åland Islands within Finland:
. “In the province of Åland, primary and technical schools must provide instruction only in Swedish. The compulsory study of Finnish, which is approved by law, should not apply in this territory.
. Residents of the islands in any situation should have priority rights in matters of acquiring land on the islands. In addition, newly arrived settlers can only gain the right to vote in elections after five years of residence on the islands.
. The Ålanders should have the right to submit to the government in Helsinki a list of three candidates for the post of governor of the islands, and the governor should be appointed only from this list."


The commission also threatened a referendum on the status of the Åland Islands if the Finnish government rejected these recommendations. These recommendations were added to the already existing guarantees of island autonomy adopted by the Finnish government. The final decision on the islands issue was made on June 24, 1921, and the League of Nations reaffirmed Finland's sovereignty over the Åland Islands. Three days later, on June 27, Sweden and Finland signed the Åland Agreement, a peace treaty on the status of the islands.
Autonomy structure of the Åland Islands


The Act of Autonomy for the Åland Islands was hastily drawn up and adopted by the Finnish Parliament on May 6, 1920. The islanders initially rejected the act. However, after the League of Nations debated the status of the islands, the proposed recommendations were added to the Autonomy Act of 1920. Lars Ingmar Johannson, who served as Secretary General of the Åland Islands Parliament in the 1980s, writes that “the first popularly elected institution on the islands was the Landsting, or Åland Parliament, which was elected by popular election in the Åland Islands, and its first plenary session was held June 9, 1922" (Article 25). Later, the Autonomy Act was again revised twice. This happened for the first time on December 28, 1951, and then again in 1993. The current legislation is fully harmonized with the Finnish government and the population of the Åland Islands.


The “fundamental principle” of the Autonomy Act was “to provide the inhabitants of the Åland Islands with the widest freedom in the management of their internal affairs in order to ensure the internal and external security of (Finland).”

The Autonomy Act clearly and clearly divides legal responsibility between the Finnish and Åland parliaments. The Åland parliament works on a similar principle to the Finnish parliament. It consists of 30 members elected every four years and functions as an institution that makes laws and decisions on issues of island life such as police, health care, education, communications, economic development of the region, etc. Johansson states that " in these areas, the functions of the Åland Parliament are practically no different from the functions of the legislative and executive bodies of an independent state."

"Preliminary laws approved by the Åland Parliament apply on the islands and are superior to laws passed by the Finnish Parliament. However, in those areas where the Åland Parliament is not vested with the power to legislate, Finnish laws have the same force on the islands as in the rest of the country Such areas include the postal, customs and monetary services, the courts, the criminal code, and many aspects of civil law relating to family, inheritance, trade and foreign affairs."


Ålanders also have a quota in the Finnish parliament and are directly elected by the island's population, just like the rest of the country's parliament. All adopted legislative acts of the Åland Parliament are sent for signature to the President of Finland, who has the right of veto only in two cases: if the law adopted by the Åland Parliament “goes beyond its competence” and if the adopted act “threatens the internal and external security of the country.”
The Åland parliament also makes laws regarding its own budget and taxation. Taxes, customs duties and other payments are collected from island residents in the same manner as from all other Finnish citizens. At the same time, the Finnish state budget has an annual guaranteed line for contributions to the Åland Islands. In addition to this, the Åland Parliament has the right to request additional funding from the Finnish state budget.


Ålanders have their own flag and local police forces. Moreover, the islands issue their own postage stamps and are represented (as part of the Finnish delegation) in the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Nordic Council is a regional organization that consists of ministers and parliamentarians of the Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands (Denmark), Greenland (Denmark) and the Åland Islands (Finland).


You probably noticed when sailing from Stockholm to Helsinki that the ferry makes a ten-minute stop halfway through the journey in a city with an unpronounceable name. Perhaps because the word Maarianhamina is difficult to pronounce, this city receives so little attention. However, it’s very in vain. Mariehamn (Maarianhamina) is worth a stopover for a couple of days. Cozy island life, so unlike life in a metropolis, or even life in a godforsaken village, will open before you in all its quiet splendor.

Marienhamn is located on a peninsula, therefore it has two ports, on the west and east coasts.

The history of Mariehamn is connected with the Eastern, or Crimean War, which determined the future fate of Åland as demilitarized islands. After the war, the local community petitioned Emperor Alexander 11 to allow the founding of a port city on the main island.

And in order to be sure to get consent, the petitioners proposed to name the city in honor of the emperor’s wife Maria Alexandrovna. By the Tsar’s manifesto on February 4, 1859, the founding of the city of Mariehamn (“Mary’s Harbor”) was “most graciously” permitted, and on February 20, 1861, a charter was signed establishing the city’s statute. Its existence is counted from this date.

The western port (Västerhamn) is of international importance, with ferries stopping several times a day on the route between Finland and Sweden.


East Harbor is one of the largest Scandinavian yacht ports.

For tourists, the capital of the Åland Islands offers ample opportunities for urban recreation: many hotels, shops, restaurants, cafes and museums will happily welcome their visitors. Not far from the city center is Lilla Holmen - a wonderful beach for the whole family and the Mariebad water park with a spa center.


The most interesting way to get to Mariehamn, the capital of the Åland Islands, is by ferry, going from Stockholm to Helsinki, and not vice versa: in this direction the ferry arrives not at four in the morning, but at midnight, which is much more convenient. Don’t be surprised by the very paradoxical pricing: getting from Mariehamn to Helsinki costs even more than from the more distant Stockholm to Helsinki.


Mariehamn has quite a lot of museums for such a small town. These are, firstly, the famous sailing ship Pommern, The Maritime Quarter and the Åland Maritime Museum, the Åland Museum, the hunting and fishing museum, the art museum and a little more.

Looking into the museum from the entrance, we concluded that these are typical provincial museums, which are not worth spending much time on if you are not a connoisseur of local arts and crafts. It only makes sense to visit the sailing ship Pommern. But if you don’t have enough time, you can still admire it from the pier (the masts and rigging look especially beautiful against the sunset).


Clean streets with toy houses not hidden behind fences, and silence, which is only occasionally broken by the roar of an old American car from the mid-century (every now I remember Stephen King’s “Christine”). As it turned out, taxes on the purchase of a new car are very high here, so young people prefer to buy impressive-looking “dinosaurs”, literally bring them into brilliant condition and in the evenings, wearing a cowboy hat, leisurely drive around the city with the whole company.

Ålanders are very careful about their mailboxes. Old mailboxes are wooden, hand-painted, and only a few dare to install newfangled plastic ones.

Mariehamn's main attraction is its hiking trails (especially in the western part of the island). The coastline is in many ways reminiscent of the southern coast of Crimea: steep cliffs, small pine trees, winding paths. But, unlike Crimea, where only in the New World there is an equipped walking “ecological” trail, here there are equipped trails everywhere (and even inside the island, marked with a red line on the map).

This means that every N meters there are benches, bridges, fences and no garbage (despite the fact that during the season the tourist load on them is appropriate). All walking routes are designed in such a way that after 2-3 hours of a leisurely walk you will return to the city.


There are several equipped beaches in the eastern and northeastern parts of the island. The sandy and muddy bottom is very flat - it will take a long time to get into the water. Because of this bottom topography, it is especially interesting to observe low tides, when a significant area of ​​​​the seabed is exposed.

The museum sailing ship Pommern is anchored in the western port. In the eastern harbor there is a Dutch steamship Jan Nieveen (also called F.P. von Knorring), converted into a restaurant. We also recommend visiting the city museum and art museum.


For architecture connoisseurs, it will be interesting to know that Marienhamn has several buildings designed by the famous Finnish architect Lars Sonck: the main building of the Åland Maritime College (1927), Marienhamn Church (1927), and the city municipality building (1939).

In the park in front of the city hall there is a statue of the city's patroness, Empress Maria Alexandrovna.


In 2011, Marienhamn celebrated its anniversary - 150 years since its foundation. This bronze monument is a gift from the Russian side.

Sculpture on a pedestal made of red granite. The monument was erected in the very center of the Åland capital.

The Russian fortress of Bomarsund reminds us of the military past of the Åland Islands. Now there is little left of it, only ruins, but the Alanders proudly bring tourists here. At the beginning of the 19th century, these islands, together with Finland, became part of the Russian Empire. But the history of Åland has been closely connected with Russia since the time of Peter the Great.

From this observation deck you can see the most beautiful road running between the islands. In the 18th century, an important postal route from St. Petersburg to Stockholm passed through Åland. Peasants living along the highway at a distance of up to 3 miles were at the disposal of the postal department and were required to deliver letters and parcels along a chain from yard to yard.

Postal workers were the first to celebrate the city's anniversary. They issued a stamp in honor of the Russian Empress. For the miniature, the authors used one of the most famous images of Maria Alexandrovna; there is exactly the same portrait in the Hermitage.

This is also a joint project between Åland and Russian post. The godmother of the city against the backdrop of a historical landscape. In Åland, only locally issued stamps are used, so now, with the help of the miniature Empress Maria, you can send a letter from Mariehamn to St. Petersburg. Very symbolic.

How to get there

Marienhamn can be reached from Turku and Helsinki, Finland, and from Stockholm or Kapellskär, Sweden.

A reliable, comfortable and popular form of transport for traveling to the capital of the Åland Islands is ferries.

Different fish are caught at each time of the year. In the summer - pike perch and salmon, in the fall - pike and sea taimen of frightening sizes, in winter ice fishing with a short rod is good, and in the spring salmon, sea taimen and pike bite well.

Since the land on the islands (and coastal waters) is privately owned, fishing is only possible in specially designated areas. These territories often consist of many small private holdings, the owners of which have united into fishing farms. There are about fifty of them in total.


To fish, you must purchase a fishing permit or a license for the territory where you plan to fish. To do this, you need to decide in advance on the fishing place (or rather, on the place where to live, since there is no point in living in one place and fishing in another). The license can be ordered in advance when booking a cottage or purchased directly on site from its owner. The cost of licenses fluctuates quite widely, depending on the amount of fish and the size of the territory. Each territory has its own rules; you should check them with the owner of the cottage when purchasing a license.

You need to immediately clarify what types of fishing are allowed in these places: pike are caught with spinning rods and spoons, perch - with light spinning rods, jigs and small spoons, salmon are caught by trolling (fishing at great depths in the open sea), sea taimen - with spoon-shaped spoons and wobblers, pike perch - on large wobblers and jigs.


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Area - 6784 km2 (land area - 1527 km2); Population - 26.0 thousand people; The administrative center is Mariehamn (Maarianhamn).

The Åland Islands (Swedish name - ÅlandSkärgård, Finnish - Ahvenanmaa) are located between Sweden and mainland Finland at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. In administrative division they represent the province of Ahvenanmaa. They are separated from the Swedish coast by the 40-kilometer Södra Kvarken Strait.

The Åland Islands are an archipelago of more than 6.5 thousand granite islands and rocky reefs (skerries). Only 65 islands are inhabited. The official language on the islands is Swedish, as their population speaks Swedish (93.5%).

The Åland Islands enjoy a special status within Finland. They have autonomy: the islands have their own parliament - Lagting and one representative from the islands in the Finnish parliament, their own government (no more than 8 ministers) and their own flag (since 1954), their own police and postal service (stamps since 1984 G.). According to the law on self-government, in some areas Åland is an independent state with its own legislation and local self-government. This is implemented in education and culture, healthcare, environmental protection, economic development, internal transport, police, postal services, radio and television. Residents of the islands can have both Finnish and local citizenship.

There are many wonderful bays on the shores of the islands. Tourists are attracted by the extraordinary nature, a kaleidoscope of landscapes - fields and meadows, rapidly giving way to dense forests, an abundance of waterways and a variety of birds, intricate landforms and red granite rocks typical of the islands.

The highest point is Mount Orrdalsklint (129.1 m) in the northeast of the main island. Due to the absence of large hills, combined with other features of the landscape, a bicycle here is an indispensable thing for tourist trips. The climate of the islands is very delicate; apples, plums and pears grow in the gardens, and colorful orchids grow in the meadows. Nature on the islands is strictly protected: 40 territories are taken under protection.

The largest island of the archipelago is Åland (Fasta Åland). It extends 50 km from north to south and 45 km from west to east. Åland is home to 90% of the population and has the only city and largest port - Mariehamn. Other large islands are Eckerö and Lemland. The main islands are connected by causeways and ferries.

Tourism is one of the islands' main sources of income: about 45% of their inhabitants are involved in serving tourists. Their numbers have increased in previous decades: now approximately 1.5 million people arrive on the islands annually. The islands are loved by Swedes and Finns. Arriving here by ferry, tourists travel by car, motorcycle, but most often by bicycle, staying in tents, small houses, cottages and boarding houses. The archipelago is often called “kayak paradise”. The islands are famous for their Midsummer (Summer Solstice) festivities, which are organized everywhere. The main attractions are the medieval parish churches, real fishermen's villages and the outstanding Kastelholm castle of the 14th century. There are many different attractions here that are associated with the sea.

In addition to serving tourists, the main occupations of the population are agriculture and fruit growing. Despite the proximity of the sea, fishing occupies a secondary place in the economy of the region.

History of the islands

The Åland Islands have evidence that the first settlements arose here more than 6 thousand years ago. The islands have Viking fortresses and cemeteries, and numerous medieval churches made of granite. During Viking times, the islands were the most densely populated place in northern Europe.

During the Northern War in 1714, the islands were occupied by Peter I after the Russian victory over the Swedes, and many residents left them, fleeing to Sweden. In 1718-1719 first in the village of Lövö, then in the village of Vargata (both on the island of Vårdö), the Åland Congress continued - negotiations between representatives of Russia and Sweden with the aim of ending the Northern War. The negotiations were unsuccessful, and hostilities continued for another two years. On July 27, 1720, one of the decisive battles took place near the island of Grengam, which is part of the southern group of the Åland Islands (about 4 km southwest of the village of Degerby). A detachment of Russian rowing ships under the command of General M.M. Golitsyn defeated the Swedish squadron of Vice Admiral Sjöblad. 4 Swedish frigates were boarded, other ships left the battlefield in panic. As a result of the “Battle of Grengam”, Russian troops were based on the Åland Islands, which contributed to the end of the Northern War of 1700-1721.

During the Russian-Swedish War of 1808-1809. in the early spring of 1809, when the Gulf of Bothnia was still covered with strong ice, Russian troops organized an expedition to the Åland Islands. The offensive was launched from the island of Kumlinge, where the P.I. corps was located. Bagration. On March 3, he led the offensive and in 3 days captured all the Åland Islands, 32 guns, 8 gunboats, 138 merchant ships, capturing more than 2 thousand people. Overtaking the enemy, the detachment of Ya.P. Kulneva reached the Swedish coast on ice and on March 7 captured the city of Grislehamn. Soon a truce was signed, and Russian troops left Swedish territory, gaining a foothold in Finland. After the war, the Åland Islands, as part of the Grand Duchy of Finland, became part of the Russian Empire.

During the Crimean War 1853-1856. On July 10, 1854, an 11,000-strong Anglo-French force landed on the Åland Islands and besieged the Bomarsund fortress, the main Russian fortification on the archipelago (its garrison under the command of Major General Bodisko numbered about 1,600 people). After an almost month-long siege, the allies captured the fortress on August 4, and about 800 of its defenders were captured.

At the end of the war in 1856, Great Britain, France and Russia signed a Convention stating that no military fortifications would be built on the islands. In the XIX century. and before the Second World War, the islands were a large merchant marine base through which the entire region traded grain with Australia.

After Finland declared independence in 1917, the population of the Åland Islands put forward demands for sovereignty and annexation to Sweden. To resolve the conflict in 1921, the intervention of the League of Nations was required: the Åland Islands were still part of Finland, but they had extensive autonomy. This provision was later consolidated in the 1995 treaty on Finland's accession to the European Union. By law, the islands are a demilitarized zone, and the male population does not have military service.

Every two years, the Olympic Island Games are organized on the Åland Islands, with participants coming from Shetland, Orkney, the Falkland Islands and the Isle of Man.

A jazz festival (Alandia Jazz Festival) and an organ festival (Ålands Orgelfestival) are held annually. In the second week of August each year, the Katrina Cultural Association organizes a chamber music festival (Kammarmusikfestival), which attracts musicians and artists from the Scandinavian countries. The festival often features musical premieres. The program includes concerts of chamber music from the Romantic era and night concerts. In summer, the island of Kumling hosts the Nordic Folk Music Festival (Visor så in i Norden).