It is considered to be the world’s most beautiful archipelago – and nowhere else in the world will you find so many islands at one place. The Archipelago Sea of Finland almost create the illusion of a labyrinth. In the southwest of the country, the national park stretches over land and sea. The prehistoric area fascinates outdoor enthusiasts with its rich flora and fauna. After all, it is one of Finland’s most species-rich regions.

A naval reservation

The region of the Archipelago National Park looks back on a long and exciting history. Already between 2000 and 1300 BC people settled around the Archipelago Sea in the Finnish Baltic Sea that touches the Gulf of Bothnia in the north and the Gulf of Finland in the south. Living close to the sea has many advantages. Fishing was a safe and versatile source of food. The warm climate (in the past this region was even warmer than it is today) was ideal for cattle breeding and agriculture. In addition, the location was ideal for trade, while the shipping industry also enabled exchange and communication with other regions.

The archipelago is still very popular with tourists and locals alike. Ferries allow visitors to visit the islands all year around. On the larger islands, villages are bustling with lively ambience. The nature on the smaller windswept islands, however, is practically untouched. Founded in 1983, the National Park is part of the Biosphere Reserves and thus protected by the UNESCO. This protection is one of the reasons why this area with a size of 500 km² has developed into one of Finland’s most species-rich regions.

Out and about between conservation and history

With so many islands there is obviously a lot to discover. Naturally, water sports are a welcome leisure time activity. Especially sailing and canoeing are very popular – as long as nature and animals are not disturbed. In fact, conservation and animal protection are an important topic in Finland. The country exercises the freedom to roam aka the “everyman’s right”. This means that everyone is allowed to access certain public or privately owned land, lakes and rivers for recreation and exercise. The free access to nature is contingent on the responsibility of nature’s welfare. The right can only be made use of as long as nature and other people are not being disturbed or harmed.

Of course, hiking is another popular activity in the Archipelago National Park. 14 trails lead through the park and provide impressive views over the natural landscape. Meanwhile, huts provide plenty of interesting information about the diverse fauna of the archipelago sea. One of the most extraordinary places of the area is the Öro Fortess Island. The former military area was closed off for a long time and was an important site of the Finnish coastal defense. As the island remained practically untouched for a long period of time, it developed into one of the country’s key concentrations of threatened species. Within the already rich and diverse National Park, the island is a little bit of a sensation. The island’s main sights include the well preserved barracks, heavy guns, defense posts and fortifications from various eras.