- Swedish:
- Åland skärgård
- Finnish:
- Ahvenanmaa
Åland Islands
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What are the Åland Islands?
The Åland Islands are an archipelago forming Åland, an autonomous territory of southwestern Finland. They are situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, approximately 25 miles (40 km) east of the Swedish coast, at the eastern edge of the Åland Sea. The archipelago consists of about 35 inhabited islands and some 6,500 uninhabited islands and rocky reefs, with a total land area of 599 square miles (1,551 square km). The largest island, Åland, constitutes over 70% of the land area and is home to about 90% of the population, including Mariehamn, the capital. Predominantly Swedish-speaking, the islands have a unique autonomy within Finland.
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Where are the Åland Islands located?
The Åland Islands are an archipelago that forms an autonomous territory of southwestern Finland. They are situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, approximately 25 miles (40 km) east of the Swedish coast, marking the eastern edge of the Åland Sea.
The Åland region is distinct from Finland due to its geographic separation and surrounding sea. The islands are autonomous, have their own parliament, fly their own flag, and the inhabitants are almost entirely Swedish-speaking.
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Who lives on the Åland Islands?
The Åland Islands are an archipelago and autonomous territory of southwestern Finland. About 90% of the archipelago's population lives on Åland, the largest island in the group.
Most Åland Islanders speak Swedish, the sole official language. Farming is a usual occupation, with mixed farms and fruit orchards. Tourism, shipping, commerce, and banking account for much of the nonagricultural employment.
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What language do people on the Åland Islands speak?
The inhabitants of the Åland Islands predominantly speak Swedish, which is the sole official language and the language of instruction in schools. The Åland Islands are an autonomous territory of Finland, but the archipelago has a long history of economic and cultural association with Sweden. About 90% of the islanders are Swedish-speaking. Swedish is one of Finland's two national languages.
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Why are the Åland Islands considered an autonomous region?
The Åland Islands are considered an autonomous region due to a history of cultural and economic ties with Sweden. When Finland declared independence in 1917, the Ålanders sought to become part of Sweden, but Finland granted them autonomy in 1920 while refusing secession.
The League of Nations mediated, granting the islands unique autonomy while ensuring they remained part of Finland. The Åland Islands have their own parliament (Lagtinget), flag, and representative on the Nordic Council. Swedish is the sole official language and is used in schools.
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How does the culture of the Åland Islands differ from mainland Finland?
The culture of the Åland Islands is distinct from that of mainland Finland due to its unique history and geographic separation. The Åland Islands are an autonomous territory of Finland, but the population is overwhelmingly Swedish-speaking. Swedish is the sole official language and the language of instruction in schools.
Because of their long history of economic and cultural association with Sweden, the Ålanders sought to become part of Sweden when Finland declared its independence in 1917. Today, the islands have their own parliament and fly their own flag. Farming is more common than fishing, with mixed farms and fruit orchards.
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Åland Islands, archipelago constituting Åland (Ahvenanmaa) autonomous territory, southwestern Finland. The islands lie at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, 25 miles (40 km) east of the Swedish coast, at the eastern edge of the Åland Sea. The archipelago has a land area of 599 square miles (1,551 square km) and consists of about 35 inhabited islands, 6,500 uninhabited islands, and many rocky reefs. The bedrock is primarily granite and covered with a soil that, though mainly clay, is rich in certain areas.
Åland, the largest island in the group, accounts for more than 70 percent of the total land area and is known locally as Fasta Åland (“Main Åland”). It consists of rugged granite to the north and rich agricultural soil to the southeast. Eckerö and Lemland are the next largest islands. Åland is home to about 90 percent of the archipelago’s population and is the site of Mariehamn, the administrative capital, chief seaport, and only town. Also located on Åland is Orrdals Hill, the highest point of the archipelago, rising to a height of 423 feet (129 metres). From the 19th century until World War II, Mariehamn served as the centre of a sailing fleet engaged in grain trade with Australia. Few of these ships still operate, though the colourful history of the fleet is reflected in an excellent maritime museum. Fishing, which originally brought settlement to coastal areas unsuited to agriculture, is a declining source of income.
The archipelago has the highest crop yields in Finland per unit area because of the mild climate and fertile soil. Small, highly mechanized farms produce wheat, oats, barley, rye, cucumbers, sugar beets, potatoes, and onions. The climate also favours apple, plum, and pear orchards. Ayrshire cattle dominate the dairy farms, and sheep are also raised. Tourism, shipping, and commerce and banking account for much of the nonagricultural employment. The islands are linked to Sweden and the Finnish mainland by car and passenger ferries, steamship service, and air service from Mariehamn airport. The islands’ tourist industry has expanded greatly in recent decades. Most visitors arrive by ferry from neighbouring Finland or Sweden. Most of the inhabitants of the islands speak Swedish, which is the sole official language and the language of instruction in schools.
The archipelago shows evidence of Bronze and Iron Age settlement as well as distinctive Viking graveyards and numerous medieval granite churches. The islands were Christianized during the 12th century by Swedish missionaries. In 1714 they were seized by the Russian tsar Peter I the Great after his naval victory over Sweden. When the grand duchy of Finland was ceded to Russia in 1809, the islands were included with the provision that they would not be fortified. Russia began fortification in the 1830s, however, with the building of the Bomarsund garrison. The fortress was destroyed in 1854 during the Crimean War by Anglo-French troops. The Åland Convention between Britain, France, and Russia (1856) stipulated that the islands would never be fortified again, though the islands remained under Russian rule. Because of their long history of economic and cultural association with Sweden, the Ålanders claimed the right of self-determination and sought to become part of Sweden when Finland declared its independence in 1917. Finland granted the islands autonomy in 1920 but refused to acknowledge their secession. The League of Nations became mediator of the Åland question, granting the islands a unique autonomy while directing that they remain part of Finland.
Åland autonomous territory has a single-chamber parliament called the Lagtinget, whose members are elected to four-year terms. Most administrative powers are vested in an Executive Council, whose ministers are appointed by the Lagtinget. The people also elect one representative to the Finnish parliament. There is a board that exercises certain administrative powers retained by the national government and that is headed by a governor appointed by the Finnish president upon agreement with the speaker of the Lagtinget. Pop. (2005 est.) 26,766.