Åland Islands

Landscape

Åland is an archipelago in the Baltic between Sweden and mainland Finland. Its landscape consists of a larger main island, many smaller islands and rocky skerries. Low relief, sheltered bays and narrow waterways are more characteristic than high mountains.

Forests, fields and villages occupy the larger islands, while outer areas are more exposed to wind and sea. Ferries and bridges link some communities, but many islands remain separated by open water. The coast is therefore an extensive network of shores rather than one continuous line.

Baltic environment

The surrounding water is brackish, meaning less salty than the open ocean. Shallow bays and rocky shores provide different habitats. Seasonal ice, wind and daylight changes influence island conditions through the year.