The Åland Islands have been considered a demilitarized country for more than 100 years, thanks to the Paris Peace Treaty. The presence of hostilities on them is completely excluded, since the islands are a neutral zone. Åland has 3 administrative regions and includes 16 communes. The territory has 6757 islands, where the main part is covered by landscapes of untouched nature.

The remaining 60 islands are admired for their cultural heritage and development policy. The Lagting is a local parliament that is not subordinate to Finland in its decisions. It is at this legislative assembly that the regulation of: educational, cultural, transport and other issues is decided. And this policy has a beneficial effect on all spectrums of the development of a comfortable life in these parts.

The wonderful state of museums, fortresses and castles will be carried away at the time of the creation of these attractions. Alands open: new horizons in sailing, wide expanses for hunting or fishing. It is on the Åland Islands that everyone can become an artist, as the harmony of flora opens up a new frontier of consciousness for a person.

Coordinates: 60.20100000,20.48500000

Åland Museum

If you have plans to visit the Åland Islands in Finland, do not forget to add a fad there - visit the Åland Museum. This museum is located in Mariehamn and shares a building with the Åland Art Museum.

The permanent exhibition of the Åland Museum presents the life of people from prehistoric times to the present day (showing the life of the inhabitants of Finland and Sweden) and is divided into 8 thematic parts: hunting and fishing, agriculture, society, people, sea, city, war, autonomy. For temporary exhibitions, where local artists are exhibited, a separate area is set aside. During the year, about 10 such exhibitions are held on various topics.

In 2010, an exhibition of shipwreck artifacts was held there. The exhibition featured the world's oldest bottles of champagne and beer, which were found after a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea in the 19th century.

Entrance to the museum is free:

Between October and April

The Aland Museum Card also entitles you to entry to all 4 museums in the Åland Islands.

Museum closed for renovation 2013 - 2014

Coordinates: 60.09734400,19.94468900

And what sights of the Åland Islands did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Kastelholm Castle

Kastelholm Castle, located on the Åland Islands belonging to Finland, from the end of the 15th century it was the administrative center of the island and the queen's hunting house.

The exact date of the construction of Kastelholm Castle is unknown, but the first mention of it was in the documents of the XIV century.

The castle was built from the end of the 14th to the middle of the 17th century and is a complex architectural complex.

In 1745, the castle was badly damaged during a devastating fire on the islands and was restored and opened to the public only in the 20th century.

Coordinates: 60.23876700,20.08343000

The Island of Adventures "Vaski" will take your whole family to those times when pirates kept many countries at bay, when numerous frightening and romantic legends about pirates were composed - about their audacity and assertiveness, nobility and mutual assistance.

Arriving here on a real pirate ship, you completely forget about modern city life. The pristine nature beckons to go in search of treasures, which, according to legend, pirates once hid here.

And, to the great surprise of those who find themselves here for the first time, everything on the island of pirates is ready for you to go on an amazing adventure journey. After all, only here, on the island of Vaski, you can feel the “pirate romance”: see a real pirate fortress, a fishing village, sunken ships, test your strength on a climbing wall, suspension crossings and participate in various other competitions for dexterity and courage.

The whole program is prepared by the organizers to the smallest detail. Vaski Island will be remembered for a wonderful vacation for the whole family, because here, not only in a playful, but also in the most realistic form, you can live for some time in the form of pirates of the Middle Ages.

Coordinates: 60.48712500,21.97707700

Moomin Island

Moomin Island, located near the Finnish resort town of Naantali (in the vicinity of the ancient port city of Turku) is just a fairy tale that all children dream of visiting. Yes, and adults do not hurt to plunge into childhood with their families. After all, on the island of Moomintrolls, everything is conducive to this ...

This fictional country, about which all the boys and girls dreamed, who got acquainted with the wonderful work of Tove Jansson about the good-natured Moomins and their amazing friends, is open to everyone. Only here you can personally get to know the heroes of Moomin Valley themselves, visit their cozy house that looks like a fairy-tale castle, take a walk through the magical forest...

A cordial meeting and a fascinating walk through the Moomin lands are waiting for everyone who decides to visit the sights of Finland and look at the island of Kailo. The wonderful country of the Moomin is open to everyone who wants to get closer to the fairy tale. Both little tourists and their parents will be delighted to meet the amazingly hospitable and kind hosts of the island.

Coordinates: 60.47312700,22.00793300

Mount Yeta

Mount Yeta is one of the main attractions of the Åland Islands. Delightful natural landscapes and the inimitable romantic atmosphere of the Scandinavian hinterland, like a magnet, attract thousands of tourists every year. To get through hiking trails, Mount Yetu attracts not only outdoor enthusiasts, but also older people, and even couples with small children. All this is possible thanks to the high-class infrastructure that allows you to travel with maximum comfort.

Having reached the top of the mountain, do not rush to leave it. Here, tired travelers are waiting not only for an excellent restaurant, but also for a real observation tower. Climbing it, you can multiply your impressions and enjoy the surrounding beauties from a bird's eye view.

Coordinates: 60.38333400,19.85000100

Maritime Museum in Mariehamn

The Mariehamn Maritime Museum is located in the Åland Islands. Its permanent exhibition includes 8 sections covering a variety of topics.

One of the halls of this museum, which tells us about hunting and fishing, takes us back to the events of the Stone Age and the first settlers of these islands. It was thanks to these first settlers that culture was brought to the islands from the west of Norway.

There are also exhibition halls that tell us about agriculture, people, society, the sea, the city, war and, of course, about autonomy! After all, the beginning of autonomy in the Åland Islands was laid thanks to the First World War. It can be added that every year, on June 9, the day of autonomy, the museum is open to everyone!

Basically, the museum tells about the brave pioneers of the sea: brave sailors who got food for the family, as well as pirates. Here you can see various ship decoration elements - coats of arms, flags and much more.

The most important exhibits of the museum are life-size ships and sailboats in all their splendor and splendor. There are also fishing boats, military ships, submarines and much more.

Next to the museum there is a monument to the Unknown Sailor, it is dedicated to all the people who connected their lives with the sea and those who died at sea.

Coordinates: 60.05550000,19.56400000

Russian fortress Bomarsund

The Russian fortress of Bomarsund, located on the Aland Islands belonging to Finland, was built from 1832 to 1846 by the Russian Empire.

During the Crimean War, the fortress, on the territory of which at that time there was the Main Fort and three defensive towers, Orthodox church and a garrison town, was burned by the locals.

Brick from the blown up walls of the fortress served in the construction of many Finnish buildings.

Today, only ruins remain of the Bomarsund fortress, but they also attract tourists from all over the world as one of the historical attractions of the islands.

Not far from the fortress is the Bomarsund Museum.

Coordinates: 60.21262400,20.23870300

Mount Geta

Mount Geta, rising 98 meters above sea level, is a natural landmark of the Åland Islands. It offers a gorgeous view of the Botanical Bay, the surrounding islands and virgin forests. On the 300-meter peak of the mountain there is an observation tower and the Soltuna restaurant. On the "magic path" leading down, you can easily walk even with small children. Going down the mountain, you can visit the Aland Caves, which, however, will have to go 5 km.

Hiking trails on Mount Geta, such as "Caves", "Middle Ages Trail", "Troll Trail" provide an opportunity to enjoy the nature of the islands and admire a wide variety of birds.

Coordinates: 60.38660000,19.84450000

Mariehamn Museum in Miniature

Mariehamn Museum in Miniature, located in the Finnish city of Mariehamn of the same name, is unique museum, one of the few of its kind in the country. The museum occupies a small room almost in the center of the city.

The expositions of the museum, which has the second name Mariepark, acquaint visitors with the history of each house in the city, from the year of its foundation in 1859 to 1920, as well as the history of its owners. Among the exhibits you can see models of the city's sights, many documents and photographs.

Coordinates: 60.09190700,19.93258600

Ramsholmen nature reserve

nature reserve Ramsholmen, located about 4 kilometers from the Finnish city of Marienhamn, is famous for its picturesque meadows and mixed forests. The territory of the reserve is small, but very diverse in terms of flora and fauna.

The park is often visited by locals and tourists. Here you can see a wide variety of trees: birch, pine, spruce, oak, maple and ash. Animal world Ramsholmen Nature Reserve is also very diverse. Squirrels, martens, many unusual birds are found here. In summer, visitors to the reserve are delighted with flowers, among which the main one is the national flower of the country - rhododendron, and flowering shrubs.

Coordinates: 60.12370200,19.96457900

The most popular attractions in the Åland Islands with descriptions and photos for every taste. choose best places for visiting famous placesÅland Islands on our website.

The Åland Islands are a place for "gourmets", those who have had enough of traditional routes. This amazing archipelago in the Baltic Sea belongs to Finland on paper, but in reality the inhabitants of the islands are more likely to mentally gravitate towards the Swedes, and most of them speak only Swedish.

I love Åland for the absence of crowds of tourists, commercial enticements like “photo with a dinosaur” and annoying sellers of excursions. Here you can fully feel the very local flavor that travelers usually hunt for. It is not faked, not adapted for a tourist - in Aland you really have to live according to local laws.

If you are a lover of nightlife, beach activities and foam parties, I do not advise you to go here in any case: it will be boring. But fans of outdoor activities, fishing and beautiful sunsets should definitely visit these northern islands.

With a probability of 80%, you will be a pioneer among your friends: it is unlikely that any of them have been to Aland. What can we say about Russian tourists, even if the Finns rarely visit this archipelago. For them, Ahvenanmaa (the Finnish name for the islands) is a sore point, the Alanders are considered almost separatists. Many residents of Suomi believe that the inhabitants of the archipelago do not learn Finnish out of harm, in order to demonstrate their disrespect. I do not dare to argue whether this is so. And since the national throwing of the Finns is still alien to you, I wholeheartedly advise you to spend your vacation in the Alands.

How to get there

The best way, in my opinion, is to go to Aland by ferry. It's convenient, fast and cheap. There is also an option to fly by plane, but it has many significant disadvantages.

By plane

So, why didn't the plane please me? The first and main reason is the price of flights. There are regular (twice a day) flights to the capital of Aland, Mariehamn, from Turku and Stockholm. On the Finnish side, they are served by Finnair, known for its excellent service, security and extortionate ticket prices. In the summer season, the cost of an hourly flight - Mariehamn (Turku - Mariehamn) can easily reach up to 200-250 EUR. Next Jet planes fly from Stockholm, a ticket will cost about 150 EUR.

In addition to biting prices, the flight to Mariehamn is bad due to the restriction on luggage and hand luggage. That is, there may be problems with the transportation of fishing equipment, tents and other attributes of a tourist traveling to actively explore the archipelago.

If the prices for flights are not very important and you are not going to take a lot of luggage with you, you can safely book plane tickets. See all offers available on this moment, you can, for example, .

The flight still has one plus: the airport is only three kilometers from the center of the capital of Aland, Mariehamn. But even here everything is not so flower-candy. You won’t be able to leave the airport by public transport; there are simply no buses or trains running there. The only suitable option is a taxi, which is not very affordable: for a 3-kilometer drive to the center of Mariehamn you will pay about 20 EUR.

In general, I advise you to think carefully before deciding to fly to Aland: air travel much more than positives.

By car

Taking a car with you to Aland is a good idea: with your car you can get to hard-to-reach parts of the archipelago where public transport does not go.

Since no tunnels or bridges have been built on the island, it will only be possible to reach it in this way using a ferry. Therefore, our conversation about auto travel smoothly flows into a paragraph about the features of traveling by water. The only thing I want to note here is that do not forget to book ferry tickets in advance, because the number of places on the deck for cars is limited. In the summer season, you sometimes have to wait for weeks for free places to transport a car.

By ferry

The most successful and cost-effective way to travel to Aland. Dozens go to the islands big ships and small ferries from, Turku and Naantali. There are many competing companies that carry out such transportation: Eskerö line, Viking Line, Silja Line, Finnlines, Ålandstrafiken.

Getting by sea, you can add new interesting touches to your trip. For example, buy an evening cruise from and enjoy all the delights of such trips: shopping, good restaurants and nightclubs, live music. We most often combine a summer trip to Aland with a one-day visit to Stockholm: in the evening we leave and spend the night on a ship, the next morning we land in Stockholm and walk there for 5-6 hours. And on the way back on the same ferry we sail to Aland.

If you don't have a lot of time and you don't want to spend it on the road, you can take a ticket for a small fast ferry from Turku or Naantali. This trip will last about 4-5 hours. If you decide to choose a small ferry, look for tickets on the Ålandstrafiken websites, the rest of the companies I mentioned above sell tickets for large cruise ships.

Tickets for large ferries cost about 30 EUR without a cabin, a standard cabin for 4 people will cost about 100 EUR. Small ferries are even more democratic: a ticket for them will cost about 20 EUR. If you take a car with you, get ready to pay another 40–50 EUR.

Another advantage of traveling on small ferries is that they, as a rule, arrive directly at the port of Mariehamn. From it to the city center is no more than a kilometer, you can walk on foot or take a taxi. Large cruise ships that follow the Helsinki - Stockholm route usually stop at night at the port of Långnäs, from which you have to go to Mariehamn about 30 kilometers. At such times, getting to the city by public transport will not work, you need to order a taxi in advance. Therefore, if you are traveling without a car, it is best to take a ticket for a small ferry.

Clue:

Aland Islands - time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Yekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season. When is the best time to go

The best time to visit Aland is definitely summer. It is pleasant here, not hot: the temperature rarely rises above +25 °C. The season lasts from May to the end of September, at which time the main island entertainments are available: boat trips, fishing, cycling. And in May, farmers markets and fairs open in Mariehamn, where you can buy fresh and tasty organic products: berries, fruits, fish and meat.

Do not be afraid of the dominance of tourists in the season: there are, of course, more of them here than in winter, but not as many as in some Italy-France. Since the islands themselves are not very densely populated, visitors simply dissolve among the locals, you are unlikely to feel their presence at all. The same applies to the cost of recreation: Alanders are not too spoiled by the abundance of tourists, so they do not have the habit of raising prices a lot during the season.

You can monitor tours to Aland on search engine sites, for example,.

Åland Islands in summer

Summer in Aland is beautiful, although a little unpredictable. It can rain at any moment, even when it seems that there is not a cloud in the sky. I can’t stand the heat, so the local +23–25 ° C degrees in June - July are ideal for me.

The biggest beauty of summer on the islands is that almost everywhere you can ride a bike. Fans of two-wheeled friends are generally expanse here: Aland seems to be created for cycling. The relief on most of the islands of the archipelago is flat, the coastline is not very long, and the scenery along it is stunning. You can rent a bike (more on that below) and spend a few days on two wheels exploring the beauty of the island.

And the beauty of the summer months is that you can live in campsites and tents, ride boats and boats, enjoy the white nights. If you come to the islands at the end of June, you will get to the celebration of the summer solstice of Juhannus (Midsommar in Swedish). This is a fun folk holiday, which is widely celebrated in Finland and Sweden: fires are lit, songs are sung, and fishing competitions are organized.

In general, in all respects, summer is the best time to get to know the archipelago. I repeat, there are not very many tourists here even during the season, but if you are completely misanthropic and want to relax almost alone, come here in August. Classes are already starting in schools in Sweden and Finland, there are very few vacationers in the Alands.

Aland Islands in autumn

In the autumn it is worth coming to Aland except in September - early October. And then, if you are not a very heat-loving creature: already at the end of August it gets noticeably colder on the islands, the temperature stays at + 15–18 ° C.

If the coolness does not scare you, you can still stay at campsites, go fishing in the summer, enjoy sea cruises and bike rides. And, of course, to take amazing pictures: the autumn nature of the archipelago is very picturesque, the rocks along the coast seem to be on fire.

Aland Islands in spring

In March - April, it is still quite cold in Aland, and most importantly, it is very windy, so you won’t be able to enjoy the natural delights of the archipelago at this time. Yes, and traveling by ferry in early spring is not always a successful undertaking, sometimes it is so stormy that you are afraid to even move once again (I remember my ferry trip to Sweden on March 8 last year, which I spent lying face down on the sofa by the window).

But May is a completely different matter, at this time it is always warm and sunny in Aland (it often turns out that May is much better and hotter than June here). Another plus of a trip in late spring is that there are almost no problems with places for cars on ferries, you don’t have to buy tickets in advance.

Aland Islands in winter

I advise only the most desperate extremals to go to Aland in winter. For it is cold (very cold!), dark and rather dull. The most complete misanthrope will be frightened: even Marienhamn completely dies out in winter, after 16:00 the probability of meeting an elk on the street is much higher than stumbling upon a person.

And what's the point of traveling to the archipelago in winter? You won’t ride bikes and boats especially, ski slopes and there are almost no resorts here.

What are the prices for holidays

Aland can hardly be attributed to the budget tourist destinations. The region is considered one of the most economically successful in Finland. For the Alanders, this, of course, is happiness, which cannot be said about tourists. You will have to fork out literally everything: from accommodation to tickets for public transport. Especially predatory prices for hotels: a day in an average three-star hotel will cost you 100-120 EUR per season.

Most often, I book hotels on, and you can compare prices from different resources. You can check if private owners offer apartments for rent.

Dinner in a restaurant for two (main courses, desserts, 2 glasses of wine) from 70 EUR.

The only good news for tourists is that it's not very high prices for entrance tickets to museums and exhibitions: on average, about 8–10 EUR. Well, a nice bonus: for children under 12 years old, admission is almost everywhere free. We go to Aland every summer, so we have worked out several ways to save money for ourselves:

Main attractions. What to see

The main attractions of Aland are natural, there are many picturesque bays and bays, rocky coasts. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that you will have to spend a lot of time outdoors, stock up on comfortable clothes, shoes and umbrellas / raincoats.

Good idea- rent a boat and bicycles for the duration of your stay: with their help you can thoroughly explore the islands and not depend on public transport, which does not always work perfectly in Aland.

However, the abundance of natural beauty does not mean that a lover of historical places will be bored in Aland. On the contrary, for them there is a lot of interesting things, because at one time the islands belonged to Russian Empire, and Sweden. In Marienhamn and other prefectures of the archipelago, it is very interesting to observe how three cultures so dissimilar to each other are combined.

There are few tourist streets on the islands, and almost all of them are located in Mariehamn.

Be sure to visit:

• Stora gatan. The central street of the city, which is full of souvenir shops, cafes and shops with local Aland handicraft souvenirs.
• Torggatan. The main shopping street of the city, all the best shops of Mariehamn are located here and in the nearby lanes.
• Esplanadi. Walking street, very pleasant and very lively in summer. There are always a lot of young people, musicians and tourists here.

Going to Aland for one day is a real crime, because you definitely won’t have time to see all the delights of the archipelago. If it so happened that you decided to stop by here for a while on the way to Sweden, I advise you to stay on the main island and devote your time to Mariehamn and Jomala. And then go to Sund to see historical places archipelago.

Mariehamn

It is worth starting your "tour" from the shopping streets of Mariehamn Stora gatan and Torggatan. Here you can admire the old wooden houses, which are very much like traditional Russian huts, buy local souvenirs. Walk to the City Hall and St Görans kyrka Cathedral.

Then head to the Maritime Museum and don't forget to see the monument to the Russian merchant Sitkov and the sailing ship Pommern along the way. This short tour will take you about 4 hours. Distances in the city are short, but if you rent a bike, keep within 3-3.5 hours.

Yomala

After that, at the Mariehamn bus station, take the Lemland - Mariehamn - Jomala bus and go to Jomala to see the local medieval church St Olofs kyrka. Together with the road, a tour of the church will take about 1–1.5 hours.

Here, in Jomala, I advise you to remember about lunch and visit a cozy restaurant at the Ulfsby Gård farm. It is located near the church, within walking distance. This place serves incredibly delicious lamb dishes and berry desserts.

sund

There is no direct bus Lomala - Sund, you will have to transfer in Mariehamn, so the journey will take you about 1-1.5 hours. On the spot, immediately go to see Kastelholm Castle and Bomarsund Fortress. This will take you about 2.5 hours.

In principle, if you have time to visit all of the above places, you can make some kind of picture about Aland. But still, the main charm of the archipelago is its natural wealth and opportunities for outdoor activities. Therefore, the islands can hardly be considered a good destination for a one-day trip.

Top 5

Beaches. Which is better

Aland has many wonderful beaches, both wild and equipped. Of those that I visited myself, I can advise the following:

The best beaches Aland Islands on the map:

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

All the prefectures of Aland are full of churches and cathedrals: wooden and stone, medieval and relatively young (there are about 16 in total). But I advise fans of architecture and history to pay attention to these:

Museums. Which are worth a visit

There are quite a few museums of various profiles on the islands, but if we discard the local history ones that are not so interesting to us, I can advise 4 of the most curious:

parks

All the Åland Islands are one continuous park, there is a lot of vegetation, lakes and beaches, bike paths and picnic areas.

But still, I advise you to pay special attention to these:

• smart park. It's not so much natural as amusement park in Eckerö. There are water rides, an autodrome, and various competitions and games are held almost every day. There is a toy laboratory where children are shown interesting experiments and told about the structure of the world. Fans of outdoor activities will also like the park: here you can rent boats, segways, bicycles, and have picnics. Address: Eckerö, Eckerövägen, 388.
• Kobba Klintar. This natural object worth a visit for the magnificent seascapes and the view of the port of Mariehamn. There is a cafe in the park that serves incredibly delicious freshly baked donuts and other tasty treats.

• Neto and Järsö. These places can hardly be called parks. Rather, they are walking trails on the island of Lemland. The trails are easy for beginners, short (about 2 kilometers each) and very scenic. From them you can admire the seascapes and mini-islands that surround Lemland.

Food. What to try

Food in Aland is a special topic, it is original, tasty and almost always made only from local organic products. There are a lot of farms here, where most establishments buy meat, milk, vegetables and fruits. Often there are restaurants right next to the farms, where they cook only from the freshest ingredients.

This is also why it is almost useless to look for budget restaurants on the islands. Food is expensive, the average second course (meat plus side dish) will cost 20–25 EUR. There is very little street food here, it is practically non-existent. If you decide to camp and cook for yourself, I advise you to visit the markets of Marienhamn or Jomala: they sell fresh fish, meat, cheeses and pastries. However, one should not hope that prices will be very low: local products are also expensive in the markets. The cheapest way to buy food is in Lidl, Prisma, City-Market, S-market.

Aland cuisine is interesting in that it has incorporated something from Russian, Finnish and Swedish, but at the same time retained its originality. The main edible product of the locals is, of course, fish, they have thousands of interesting recipes for its preparation. It was here that I first tasted salmon marinated in resin liqueur.

I doubted for a long time, but in the end I was very satisfied. Another important component local cuisine- lamb, you can safely try it in all restaurants, it will always be delicious.

A separate story - drinks in the Alands. Here they prepare delicious cider from local apples and blueberries, drink wine and beer. Fans of the latter should definitely go to the village of Grelsby in Finström prefecture. The so-called “slow beer” is brewed on the local farm, the preparation process of which lasts from 4 weeks. I myself am not a fan of the foamy drink, so I can’t tell you about its taste, but my friends, beer drinkers, first of all, upon arrival on the islands, just go to buy beer in Grelsby.

Top dishes to try in Aland

Intermediate level:

• Indigo Restaurant & Bar. Mariehamn, Nygatan, 1;
• Bistro Koppar Grytan. Jomala, Sparvagen, 1;
• Cafe La Strada. Mariehamn, Torggatan, 6;
• ASS Paviljongen. Mariehamn, Sjopromenaden;
• Ovningsrestaurang Hjorten. Mariehamn, Strandgatan, 1A.

• Smakbyn. Sund, Slottsvagen, 134 (Kastelholm);
• Nautical. Mariehamn, Hamngatan, 2;
• Bagarstugan Cafe & Vin. Mariehamn, Ekonomiegatan, 2;
• Strandhugget.Sottunga, Strandhugget, 1.

Grocery shopping in Aland is also distinguished by a certain elitism. That is, hunting with huge bags for sanctioned cheeses, ham and milk is not worth it here: the prices for all this goodness on the mainland of Finland are much more humane, so leave this kind of purchase for later.

But it is very possible to buy something from high-quality pure Aland products here. For example, in these stores:

• Mercedes Chocolaterie(Eckerö, Eckerö Post & Tullhus). This store is worth a visit even if you are not going to buy anything. It is located in a beautiful old post office building, very interestingly decorated inside. Here you can buy excellent handmade chocolate souvenirs, marzipan sweets, dark chocolate bars with local berries and fruits.
• Stallhagen(Godby, Getavägen, 196). The same beer shop that I mentioned above and which my beer friends adore. There are both "permanent" and "seasonal" beers. Tasting of new products is arranged almost every day.

Holidays

Juhannus/Midsommar (Ivan Kupala Day)

The most interesting thing that can happen to you in Aland is the celebration of the local day of Ivan Kupala, or Juhannus, or, as the Swedes say, Midsommar. It falls on Friday from 19 to 25 June.

In fact, this holiday is widely celebrated in both Finland and Sweden, but for some reason it is especially loved on the islands of the archipelago. Most often, I happened to find Juhannus on the mainland of Finland, and I can say that he is much more modest there than in Aland. Here, from the very morning, everyone is actively preparing for the holiday: they decorate houses, weave wreaths, and prepare treats. All day people have fun, go to dances, burn bonfires. Many gather in companies and go to rest in cottages or campsites.

Where to go

Be sure to visit the evening fire on central square Mariehamn. There will be dances, songs, competitions and, of course, you will be offered traditional treats: salted herring, new potatoes with dill, grilled meat and local cider, beer or sparkling wine.

Fishing competitions are usually held in Eskerö on this day, you can get a good prize. In any case, no matter which prefecture you live in, there are many interesting things there. Just take care of food and drinks in advance: it will be difficult to find an open store on this day even in Mariehamn.

Harvest Festival

An interesting and very favorite local event. It usually takes place on the last weekend of September. These days, the farms of the archipelago open their doors to everyone: you can drive from one to another, taste local products and watch how jams, wines, juices, etc. are prepared. In addition to gastronomic entertainment, farmers try to organize an active program for guests: horseback riding , various lectures and master classes.

Where to go

In principle, you can visit any of the farms, almost all of them participate in the holiday. Be sure to go to Smart Park, where the opening of the festival takes place: they organize an entertainment program for children.

Christmas

New Year Alanders are not particularly fond of, as, indeed, the Finns and the Swedes. It is celebrated very modestly here. But Christmas is another matter, it is the main day of the local calendar. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day itself (December 24-25), Alanders gather with their families at the table, give gifts and go to the sauna.

It's useless to wait in the cities these days entertainment program. But about a month before Christmas, the festive rigmarole will begin to be felt very clearly: almost every day concerts, fairs are held on the islands, restaurants invite you to gala dinners.

Where to go

At the end of November, visit the opening of the Christmas season in Mariehamn, a fair and a big festive concert. Usually this action ends with fireworks on retail space. Don't forget to bring the kids: Santa will be handing out gingerbread cookies, candies and glögs - traditional hot berry drinks with spices.

Safety. What to watch out for

Actually, becoming a victim of scammers in Aland is about as easy as getting a sunstroke in Lapland in January. That is, it is practically impossible. locals very calm, friendly and peaceful.

In an already super-safe Finland, the archipelago is considered one of the most quiet places. If in the mainland of Suomi you can be embarrassed by gypsies or refugees from the Middle East in the evening, then there are practically none in Aland (at least I didn’t see a single one). Here you can safely walk in the evenings and at night, leave the car open, forget things in in public places: they will be returned to you anyway!

We often hitchhike in the evenings, if we need to get from the campsite in Eckerö to Mariehamn - we never met suspicious personalities, all the drivers were very nice and friendly. They never even took money from us. So you can relax and enjoy your vacation in peace: Aland is definitely not one of the places where you need to be on the alert.

Things to do

In the summer, Aland is full of places for active leisure, you can dedicate a new hobby every day. Among the most popular entertainment, I will highlight these:

• Golf and tennis. Again, thanks to the calm, flat terrain, Åland is full of good golf courses. My friends especially like the places near the Kastelholm castle (for example, Linnankenttä) and the playgrounds in Eckerö (Eckerö Golfklubb). There are also enough tennis courts that can be rented by the hour. The most popular are in Mariehamn near Idrottspark.
  
• Horseback riding. When I watch young Åland riders, it seems to me that these children were born in the saddle. Horse riding is so popular here that many wealthy Alanders have private stables. Beginners are happy to learn how to communicate with horses. Horseback riding is available at Stall Aftonsol (Hammarland), Midgård Islandsstall (Sund), Ridklubben Sleipner (Maariehhamn), Stall Rosenqvist (Eckerö) schools.
  
• bars. I will say right away and honestly: there is a real problem with bars, pubs and nightclubs on the islands. What is a bar in the understanding of the Alanders will seem to us more like a bistro cafe. In pubs, Alanders adhere to their favorite concept: food should be prepared only from local products, and drinks should be expensive and of high quality. Rock music is played in all establishments, local bands are invited to perform on Saturdays and Fridays. For most of our tourists, the opening hours of bars come as a surprise: almost all of them close at 2:00 on Friday and Saturday, and at 00:00 on weekdays. Nevertheless, I will mention those places in the archipelago that, with a good imagination, can be mistaken for bars:
  • Pub Niska(Mariehamn, Sjokvarteret). A good place for those who like to enjoy not only drinks and music, but also "bar" food. Here they cook the best pizza in Mariehamn, again, only from local products. The waiters once boasted to us that even pizza cheese is brought from a farm on the island of Eckerö.
  • Tullkallarn Pub(Degerby, Lotsuddsvagen). Quite a stylish establishment, located in the premises of the former warehouse of the local customs. Again, in our understanding, it is difficult to call it a pub: pizza and various snacks are served here, but you can order only light drinks from drinks: beer and ciders, wines, cocktails. For stronger alcohol, the institution simply does not have a license. However, the bar is worth a visit for its unusual decor and delicious fish snacks.
  • Pub Ettan(Mariehamn, Torggatan, 1). In my opinion, the most traditional bar in Aland. At least the locals love it and often gather here in the evenings for a glass of beer. There is not much food and a rich selection of drinks. Local musicians play every Saturday and Friday.
• shopping. I can hardly call Aland an ideal place for shopping. It is oh so far from Milan outlets and Stockholm shopping centers to local shops.
  But on the other hand, there are enough cute shops with local souvenirs and designer things on the islands that are worth paying attention to. Basically, they are all concentrated in Mariehamn.
  • Handmade shops. I can recommend the following:
    • SALT. Shop for local goods in Mariehamn's maritime quarter (Sjökvarteret). Here you can buy products made of fabrics, ceramics, wood and iron. Everything is very expensive and high quality.
    • Labelled. Åland designer Linda Karlsson's shop in Mariehamn (Torggatan, 15). Lots of interesting recycled items: dresses, bags, sweaters. There are souvenirs for the house. In general, the design is not for everyone, but green peace style adherents will like it.
    • Gretas butik. Semi-secondhand, semi-handmade shop where you can find interesting vintage jewelry and home goods. It is also located in Mariehamn (Skarpansvägen, 23).
    • Judy's Hantverk & Inredning(Jomala, Hindersvagen, 1). Pretty colorful pottery shop by local designer Judy Kuitunen. All products are bright positive colors. Here you can also find hand-made textiles from other Åland artists.
    • Guldviva(Mariehamn, Sjokvarteret). I wholeheartedly recommend this store to crazy trinket fans like me. Here you can buy interesting silver and gold items from local designers. From time to time, really unique things come across, so you can safely go here for gifts to friends and female relatives.
  • Branded stores. I will warn you right away, branded items are very expensive here. Large sales on the islands are not so common (mostly after the Christmas holidays), so the chance to profit from something luxurious is not so great. If prices are not so important to you, you can pay attention to these stores:
    • Ziz Zaci(Mariehamn, Torggatan, 9B);
    • Boutique Niccola(Mariehamn, Norragatan, 1);
    • Tara(Mariehamn, Torggatan, 13);
    • Martin's(Saltvik, Dragödavägen, 57).
  • Large shopping mall- Maxing Center. Actually, the only shopping mall in the Alands, where you can find inexpensive clothes, accessories, appliances, cosmetics, etc. In addition, there are a lot of cafes, restaurants, playgrounds. There are also grocery supermarkets. It is located, oddly enough, not in Mariehamn, but in Jomala. Address: Jomala, Sparvagen, 1.

extreme sports

There are not so many extreme entertainments on the islands because of the notorious flat terrain that cyclists love so much. But there is one beloved by the locals extreme view sports - sea kayaking.

Åland has ideal conditions for rowing for both beginners and experienced ones, because there are many closed bays and open beaches.

Do you want to work out, take a leisurely kayak trip along the coast and enjoy the beautiful scenery? Choose the beaches of Yomala or Sund prefecture: they are reliably protected from strong winds. If you consider yourself an experienced rower, head straight to Degersand Beach. This is an open beach, within its limits there are almost always gorgeous waves, and you will have to work hard so that the boat does not capsize.

Kayak and rescue equipment can be rented from a reputable local company. A single kayak will cost you 50 EUR per day, a double kayak will cost you 90 EUR per day. You can rent them for a short time, for 2 hours. It will cost 35 EUR for a single kayak and 60 EUR for a double kayak. Special kayaks for surfing cost from 55 EUR per day. The same company offers rowing guide services and group tours along the routes.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

As you already understood, Aland is a very atypical corner of Finland, so you won’t get off with traditional sweaters with deer and magnets from Yolupukki as souvenirs. Otherwise, no one will believe that you have been to the islands. So, the most interesting gifts from here:

Aland Islands - holidays with children

Aland is the best suited for families with children, and even with the smallest. Everything here is adapted for young tourists: in cottages, campsites and hotels you will be offered cots, in all cafes there are high chairs. And in general, the islands are very calm and safe, children can be allowed to walk alone on the playgrounds.

The beaches in Åland are well-groomed, and many of my Finns I know call them lapsiystävälliset, which literally means "friendly for children."

Things to do with kids

• Visit Kastelholm, Bomarsund and the sailboat Pommern. All three objects are not very large and interesting, children will not have time to get tired during their visit and at the same time they will be imbued with the medieval romance of fortifications, sea stories about the adventures of a sailboat.

Ski holidays

Due to the surprisingly flat terrain in Aland, there are no more or less worthy ski slopes, so lovers winter views sports, I would not recommend the archipelago as a vacation spot.

conditional areas. Descriptions and Features

Åland consists of 16 prefectures, 10 of which are located on the very large island the Manner-Ahvenanmaa archipelago.

Prefectures of the Åland Islands on the map:

The following deserve the attention of tourists:

I advise you to get acquainted with the above prefectures of Aland first of all, because the most “delicious” places of the archipelago are concentrated in them. If you are going to the islands for a week or more, you should also look at other Aland prefectures: Geta, Hammarland, Saltvik, Lemland, Lumparland, Brändö, Föglö, Kumlinge, Kökar, Vårdö. All of them are pretty and picturesque, each one has enough interesting walking and cycling routes.

How to get around the islands

Public transport in Aland is not as well developed as we would like. Its only available type is buses. There are no trams here, and certainly for the sake of 25 thousand people, no one would build a metro. There are also ferries from island to island.

In general, the most convenient and profitable option for travelers is to come to the islands by car. If this is not possible, I advise you to rent it already in Mariehamn, although it will be much more expensive. You can compare offers using various aggregator sites, for example,.

For those who still decide to use public transport services, I advise you to be patient and use the Internet. Both buses and ferries do not run so often, sometimes you have to wait 20-30 minutes, others and even an hour. So it's best to check the schedules on the website of the local carrier company Ålandstrafiken. You can buy tickets there right away. If you do not want to pay online, please contact the Ålandstrafiken ticket office in Mariehamn and at the marinas. Tickets are also sold on the buses themselves and on the ferries.

One bus ride costs 2 EUR, but you can also buy cards for 10, 25 or 50 times. The greater the number of trips, the more favorable the price, respectively: a card for 10 times will cost you 18 EUR, for 25 - 42 EUR, for 50 - 70 EUR. A single trip on the ferry costs 5 EUR. They sell subscriptions, you can only buy an annual card, but why should a tourist who spends two weeks on the islands at best need it?

I advise “carless” travelers to think about hitchhiking around the islands. This is common and safe here. I myself have experienced this many times myself and have never encountered problems. Just don't forget to write your destination in big letters on a piece of cardboard, and you will most likely be picked up within 10-15 minutes.

It is worth paying attention to the boats: very convenient way movement around the islands for those who do not want to be tied to the time of the ferries. In Mariehamn, there is only one company offering "various" boats and canoes for rent, already familiar to us. Apparently, therefore, her prices are not the most democratic: a day of using an ordinary rowing boat will cost you about 100 EUR, in the case of a motor boat, add the cost of fuel. Renting for a week is more profitable: it will cost about 250–300 EUR. Canoes are slightly cheaper: about 80 EUR per day and 150 per week.

The conditions for renting boats are the same as the rules for renting bicycles: you will only be asked for an identity card, you will not have to pay a deposit.

The most familiar way of transportation for locals, everyone has a bicycle in Aland, regardless of income level and social status. Even important officials often get to work on two wheels. I advise you to move around the islands by bicycle, then you will not have to depend on not very convenient public transport. Yes, and the savings will be significant, because gasoline in the Alands is not cheap: a liter of the 95th costs about 1.5 EUR, 98th - 1.7 EUR.

If you are on the islands in the summer, you don’t have to worry too much about equipment: most of the day it is light here, the risk of getting into trouble even on the busiest routes is minimal. If you suddenly decide to ride a bike in late autumn or early spring, it is better to take care of reflectors in advance - you can buy them at any supermarket and souvenir shops. Do not forget about helmets, especially when you leave the city. You will not be fined for their absence, but for the sake of your own peace of mind, it is still better to protect your head.

Almost everywhere on the islands there are bike paths that are laid a little away from the main route. As a rule, in the area of ​​Mariehamn, Jomala and Eskerö they are well lit. In remote areas of the archipelago (like Sottunga) they often save on electricity, so make sure that your two-wheeled friends are equipped with parking lights (rental bikes are strictly checked here, so they will definitely comply with all safety standards).

So, if my arguments convinced you and you decide to rent a bike, you can contact an already well-known company. Their prices are quite democratic: a day of rent will cost 10 EUR, a week - 50 EUR. This company also has a lot of additional bike equipment like child seats, trailers for transporting animals, etc. The rental conditions are simple: you only need a passport, they don’t even take a deposit for renting bikes. Well, try to return the equipment on time, otherwise you will have to pay some kind of symbolic fine.

Taxi. What features exist

If you come to Aland without a car, you will have to use a taxi quite often. Start at least with what to get from the airport or seaport to the center of Mariehamn it will turn out only on it. Be prepared for the fact that taxis here are a luxury. When you get into the car, the meter already shows 9 EUR. There are no underground "cabbies" in the Alands, everything is official and according to the meter. Taxi prices here are so inhumane due to high taxes: a trip from the airport will cost you about 20 EUR. If you take a taxi from the distant port of Långnäs, which is 30 kilometers from Mariehamn, be prepared to fork out 60–80 EUR.

However, the general formality of taxis in Aland has its advantages: for example, all cars are equipped with terminals, and you can always pay with a card. Catching a taxi on the street is not accepted here, they are usually taken at special parking lots in ports, the airport, and on the central square. You can call and order a car by phone: the operators of local taxi companies are fluent in English.

Public transport

As I already noted, buses are not the most convenient tool movement around the islands. You won’t be able to completely rely on them: buses do not always have a convenient schedule. And on weekends and holidays the number of shipments is completely reduced: in small settlements there may be no buses at all, for example, on Sundays. In the capital, Jomala and Eckerö, the situation is better, but still far from ideal. In any case, do not forget to use this site, then the likelihood of getting into an unpleasant situation will be minimized.

Transport rental

Car rental in Aland is quite popular, the service is offered by both local companies and branches of large international companies. According to my observations, prices for international companies are slightly lower. We rented cars from Hertz several times: the prices there turned out to be the lowest on the islands, and the car fleet is quite rich. In addition to standard cars, the manager offered minibuses and jeeps, which can be used to get into any wilderness of the archipelago. Try looking for cars from other companies: Expedia , Car Hire , Runbergs Bil & Service.

The last company is purely local, Aland, we had a short but pleasant experience with it. We rented a car for a trip to Sottunga and were very pleased with the service. No one demanded a deposit from us, they asked for a passport, which was immediately returned after a copy was made. As far as I know, all the local companies where they rent cars work according to these principles.

Car prices for all companies also differ slightly: as a rule, a day of rent costs about 80 EUR, a week - about 400 EUR. Add to this the cost of gasoline, which is by no means cheap in Aland: about 1.5 EUR - 95th, 1.8 EUR - 98th. Fortunately, on the islands there are not very long distances between the main tourist sites, and it is unlikely that you will spend too much fuel.

The best way to compare offers, as I said, is to use aggregator sites. Let's say .

Alanders are one of the calmest drivers in the world, so even an inexperienced driver will be able to navigate the islands. Even if you slow down and look for the turn you need for a long time, no one will honk and rush in annoyance. There are a few things to keep in mind when moving around the archipelago:

• Remember about the speed limit, in cities it is 40 kilometers per hour! Moreover, in Aland, unlike Russia, there is no “corridor” of 20 kilometers per hour, an error of 5 kilometers per hour is officially allowed. However, in our experience, the camera will not detect violations up to 10 kilometers per hour.

Unique seascape The Åland Islands captures the imagination of everyone who sees it for the first time. Picturesque skerry landscape, mild climate and a large number of sunny days many vacationers are attracted to the Åland Islands every year. And thanks also 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 to settle on the islands from about 4200 BC. e., and for many centuries the islands were a "bridge" between Finland and Sweden, and the population of Aland 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. Since 1984, they have been issuing their own postage stamps (Finnish stamps are invalid). Alanders are proud of their special status and do not like being called Finns. The main occupations of the Alanders are shipping, vegetable growing and the tourism industry. After the abolition of duty-free trade in the EU countries, the Åland Islands remain the only tax-free oasis in Europe.

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

Turku - oldest city Finland, the largest port, former capital. It is an excellent starting point for visiting the islands, especially if you are 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, elks, seals, and at the same time feel the rural charm. inner islands, inspect the giant lighthouses.

What to see in Åland

Mariehamn

Mariehamn, or Mariehamn (11 thousand inhabitants, or 40% of the total population of the islands) - main city islands. The city of “a thousand limes” in the south of the archipelago was founded in 1861 by the Russian Emperor Alexander II and named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Since 1889 Mariehamn - popular seaside resort, now it is the administrative and industrial center of Aland. The magnificent 1000 m long Norra Esplanadgatan street connects the Western Port and the Eastern Port. Don't leave the old Sea Quarter unattended.

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

A museum of navigation 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 (length 95 m)- 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, Sept.-Oct. 10.00-16.00.)

Ramsholmen

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

Fortress Kastelholm

Kastelholm is located 23 km northeast of Mariehamn. (Kastelholm). The first written mention of it is found in 1388. Until 1634, "Northern Gibraltar" was the residence of the governor of the Alands. In 1507, the Danish fleet destroyed the castle, and in the middle of the XVIII century. the castle was destroyed by fire. Today it has been restored and is open for inspection. (Opening hours: May, June, early-mid-Aug. 10.00-17.00, July 10.00-17.30, mid-Aug.-Sept. 10.00-16.30).

Manor of Jan Karl

Not far from Kastelholm - a museum under open sky"Manor of Jan Karl" ("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 John the Baptist (XIII century) with wooden sculptures. Not far from her in the forest - the ruins of the Viking fortress Borgboda (Borgboda).

Bomarsund

To the east of Kastelholm (11 km) rises the Bomarsund fortress, built by the Russians in 1832-1854. The fortress was conceived 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 from the "Pilot's House" on the island of Preste (Prasto). Opening hours: May-Ser. Aug. Tue-Sun 10.00-15.00.

Saltvik

North of Mariehamn (23 km on the highway via Jomala, turn left before Kastelholm) 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 Gotland limestone, the triumphal cross and the altar chest. (XV century)

Orrdalsklint

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

Finström

20 km north of Mariehamn (after Jomala to the left) Finström is located (Finstrom) centered in Godby (godby). In the church of St. Michael (XIII century), frescoes of the XV century have been preserved.

Geta

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

Hammarland

21 km northwest of Mariehamn stands the Church of St. Catherine in Hammarland (XIII century). In Skarpnato the municipality of Hammarland (Hammarland) opened a local history museum. Interesting peasant buildings of the XVIII century. and old windmills.

Eckero

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

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

Museum of hunting and fishing 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. Next to the ruins of the sea chapel of St. Olaf (XIII century)- the ancient cemetery of the Vikings, the largest in Aland. Former Viking sanctuary - stone maze. Pellas Historic House Museum (1884) open: ser. June-ser. Aug.

Kyokar

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

Information about the Åland Islands

Location of the Åland Islands on the world map

The Aland Islands is an autonomous region of Finland (according to the new administrative-territorial division of the country of January 1, 2010), occupying the archipelago of the same name in the Baltic Sea. Includes about 6,000 islands at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia. The part of the Baltic within which the Aland Islands lie is called the Archipelago Sea, being the largest cluster of islands on Earth.

Most borders are maritime. The Åland Islands border in the east with the region of Original Finland. In the west - with the Swedish flax Stockholm. In the extreme northwest with the Swedish county of Uppsala. The Aland Islands also border on the latter by land - on the tiny island of Merketa, with an area of ​​\u200b\u200bonly 3 hectares.

Map of Åland Islands

State structure of the Åland Islands

The Åland Islands are an autonomous region of Finland. Until 2010, they were an autonomous province of the same name.

In 1920, Finland granted autonomy to the islands by issuing the "Aland Islands Autonomy Law", which the inhabitants of the islands did not accept. In 1951, the law was replaced by a new one, which on August 16, 1991, after 20 years of preparation, was again updated and adopted by the Parliament of Finland with the consent of the Parliament of the Åland Islands. On January 1, 1993, the autonomy law entered into force.

The inclusion of the islands into Finland on January 4, 1918 (after the recognition of Finland's independence by Sweden and Russia) initially caused a wave of protest both among the population of the Åland Islands themselves and the continental part of Sweden. People feared for their original Swedish culture. Therefore, two meetings were convened at the initiative of the League of Nations to resolve differences. On June 24, 1921, the islands began to be considered part of Finland, with broad autonomy granted to them. After another 3 days, the "Aland Agreement" was signed between Sweden and Finland - a peace treaty on the status of the islands.

The modern islands are a completely demilitarized territory. The construction of military fortifications, the deployment of military units is prohibited here. The demilitarization of the Åland Islands was unilaterally established by the Russian side following the Paris Peace Treaty of 1856, which put an end to the Crimean War.

In the international convention of 1921, the status of the islands, their demilitarization and neutral status during the conduct of hostilities were confirmed. The convention was signed by 10 states, Russia was not among them. However, in the Moscow Agreement on the Åland Islands of 1940 and the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947, there are decrees on the demilitarization of the islands. At the same time, there is no mention of a neutral status in any of the documents.

Residents of the islands, as well as those who moved to the islands before reaching the age of twelve, are not called up for military service. The carrying and storage of any firearms, except for hunting, is prohibited to citizens. An exception is made only for the police.

The official language of the Åland Islands is Swedish (Åland dialect). All national television and radio programs and teaching in schools are conducted in this language. All written correspondence sent to government offices must also be in Swedish.

Housing on the islands can only be purchased by persons with citizenship of the Åland Islands. This is done to preserve the priority right to own land and real estate for its citizens.

The internal policy of the islands is regulated by the Parliament of the Åland Islands - Lagting, which is the legislative body. Foreign policy is under the jurisdiction of the Parliament of Finland - Eduskunta.

The executive power of the islands is in the hands of the government, which cannot be more than 8 people. Members of the government are elected by the deputies of the Lagting, and as a rule they rely on a parliamentary majority.

The deputies of the Lagting are elected every 4 years by secret and direct ballot. The first parliamentary elections were held on June 9, 1922, and since then this date has been annually celebrated as the Self-Government Day of the Åland Islands. Today there are 30 deputies in the parliament.

Control over such areas of public life as: education and culture, environmental protection, health care, transport, post, television and radio broadcasting, public utilities, police and economic development is carried out by the administrative apparatus controlled by the government of the Åland Islands. All laws in these areas, passed by Parliament, are then sent to the President of Finland, who bases his decision on the opinion of the Åland Delegation and, sometimes, Supreme Court republics. The chairman of the Åland delegation is the Governor of the Åland Islands, appointed by the President of Finland after agreement with the chairman of the Lagting.

The conduct of foreign policy, judiciary, the customs system, criminal and civil law, taxation are controlled by the same laws that apply throughout Finland. To ensure the legitimate interests of the Åland Islands, one deputy from the islands is represented in the Finnish Parliament.

A Brief History of the Åland Islands

People began to populate the Aland Islands even before our era. The first traces of human presence in the form of ceramics date back to 4000 BC.

Over the following centuries, the islands more than once became the scene of hostilities between the Baltic states. In particular, in 1714-21. The Aland Islands were almost completely plundered by the forces of Peter the Great, and the population fled to neighboring Sweden.

Until the beginning of the 19th century, the Swedish kingdom had the power of the Åland Islands, after which the islands as part of the Grand Duchy of Finland were annexed to the Russian Empire by the Fredrikshamn Treaty of September 17, 1809.

In 1832, the Russian fortress of Bomarsund was built on the islands. During the Crimean War, the fortress was captured by the allied English and French troops. On March 30, 1856, an agreement was signed between Great Britain, France and Russia on the inadmissibility of building military fortifications on the islands and deploying military forces.

In December 1917, the Finnish parliament declared independence from Russia, taking advantage of the instability of the situation in the latter. The population of the Åland Islands at the same time, fearing for the safety of their Swedish language and culture, seeks to reunite with Sweden. However, on January 4, 1918, Sweden and Russia recognize the independence of Finland and the islands are included in its composition. The final agreement between the two Scandinavian states on the status of the islands was reached only in 1921 following a meeting of 2 commissions created by the League of Nations. As a result, on June 24, 1921, the League of Nations decided to consider the islands part of Finland, but with autonomy granted to them. Three days later, Sweden and Finland signed the "Aland Agreement" - a peace treaty on the status of the islands.

On October 20 of the same year, representatives of ten states: Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Finland, France, Sweden and Estonia signed a convention in Geneva on the demilitarization and neutrality of the Aland Islands. This convention was not signed by representatives of Russia, because was considered contrary to the interests of the Russian state. The fact is that the islands lie near the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, and the convention signed by the leading world powers actually gave them complete control over the Gulf and Russian naval forces. Before the Second World War, in violation of the convention, Finland erected fortifications on the islands, but under the terms of the agreements following the Soviet-Finnish war, Finland undertook to demilitarize the islands, which was violated by the Finnish side just a few months later. Only 3 years later, as Finland fought on the side of fascist Germany, between the USSR and Great Britain on the one hand and Finland on the other, following the results of the truce, the agreement on the inadmissibility of hostilities on the territory of the Aland Islands was restored.

Nature of the Åland Islands

The territory of the Aland Islands (fin. Ahvenanmaa) is 1552 km 2, of which about 27 km 2 are occupied by rivers and lakes. The rest of the territory is 6757 large and small islands and rocks. Only 60 of them are inhabited.

The largest of the islands is the island of Aland or main island, covering an area of ​​685 km 2. Other major islands are Ekerö, Vardø, Lemland and Lumparland. The islands are hilly, composed of granites and gneisses. The most high point of all the islands - the Orrdalsklint peak lies in the municipality of Saltvik and reaches 132 meters in height. The second highest is Mount Kasbergen, lying in the mountains of Jeta, with a height of 129 meters.

Numerous small islands and rocks occupying vast areas within the archipelago are called skerries and are usually uninhabited.

The climate of the islands is temperate continental maritime, milder than the climate of neighboring areas of continental Finland. Medium annual temperature air is 7-8°C. In summer, the average air temperature rises to 15°C, in winter it drops to -2.5°C. In general, the climate of the islands is very even: the influence of the Baltic Sea affects. The sea accumulates heat for a long time and then gives it off for a long time, thanks to which it is very warm on the islands in autumn and cool in spring.

There is little precipitation - 550 mm per year. Lots of sunny days. According to the latest indicator, the Åland Islands are the sunniest region of Northern Europe.

Most of the islands are occupied by pine and broad-leaved forests. The rest of the territory is meadows, shrubs and arable land.

Administrative-territorial structure of the Åland Islands

The Åland Islands are divided into 16 communes, which are combined into 3 sub-regions: the archipelago, the village and Mariehamn.

Commune	Area (km 2)	Population (31 October 2010)	Population density (person / km 2)
brando	108,07	482	4
Wordo	101,5	449	4
Jomal	142,55	4072	29
Yeta	84,36	484	6
Kumlinge	99,26	371	4
Lemland	113,09	1820	16
Lumparland	36,25	392	11
Mariehamn	11,79	11146	945
Saltvik	152,09	1795	12
Sottunga	28,05	119	4
sund	108,07	1017	9
Voglö	134,78	573	4
Finström	123,26	2507	20
Hammarland	138,19	1503	11
Chokar	63,55	261	4
Ekerö	107,71	945	9

Population of the Åland Islands

The population of the Åland Islands on October 31, 2010 was 27,899 people, of which more than 11 thousand people lived in the capital Mariehamn. In addition, about 50 thousand people from the islands live outside of them: in Sweden, Finland, Norway.

The average population density is 18 people / km 2.

The majority of the population of the Åland Islands are ethnic Swedes (92%), in connection with which the Swedish language has been given the status of a state language. Another 5% of the population are descendants of Finnish fishermen. In the commune of Brando, the share of Finnish-speaking citizens is higher - 9%.

The proportion of women in the structure of the population is 51%.

The vast majority of the population - 94.8% - belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The distribution of the population by age groups in the Åland Islands is as follows: from 0-14 years old - 17.3%, from 15-64 (labor) - 65.9, over 65 years old - 16.8 (data are given for 2005). The islands are characterized by an increase in the proportion of people of retirement and pre-retirement age, a decrease in the proportion of children, as well as a decrease in fertility and mortality, which ultimately gives a low natural population growth of only 0.3 per thousand. In addition, the population of the Åland Islands increases by about 200 people annually due to immigrants who come to the autonomy from neighboring Sweden and Finland.

The unemployment rate in 2009 was 5.4%, which is lower than the national average of 8.2%. However, in previous pre-crisis years, the unemployment rate fluctuated around 1-2%.

Economy of the Åland Islands

The economy of the Åland Islands is based on the production and processing of crop products (sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, barley, oats, onions), dairy farming, fishing, tourism, the pulp and paper industry, trade and transportation services.

In total, over 2,000 enterprises are registered on the territory of the Åland Islands, most of which (30%) work in the field of trade and tourism. About 20% of operating enterprises are engaged in construction, mainly wooden cottages, which is due to the presence of an extensive construction base and the rental of almost a third of all cottages to tourists, the number of which is constantly growing from year to year and in recent years has exceeded 2 million people a year, of which only a quarter stay on the islands for more than one day. The main flow of tourists comes from neighboring Sweden and Finland.

17% of Åland's enterprises operate in the financial sector. Insurance and banking operations are becoming an important source of income today.

10% of enterprises are engaged in the production of industrial products and transportation. The location of the Åland Islands, halfway between the main industrial regions of such highly developed countries as Sweden and Finland, makes the islands an important transit point between them. And today, the profit from the transportation of goods through the territory of the Aland Islands gives up to a third of regional GDP.

The GDP of the Åland Islands in 2002 reached 906 million euros, or about 35 thousand euros per capita, which is higher than in neighboring Finland and Sweden.

It is very interesting that approximately 15% of the total GDP of the Åland Islands is allocated from the state budget of Finland. This measure is taken as compensation for taxes, customs duties and excises deducted to the state treasury. In 2007, the allocation amounted to €190 million, which is about 45% of Finland's total income minus public debt.

Today's Åland is one of the wealthiest regions in the European Union.