Kvarken Archipelago World Heritage Site
• 19440 km2, of which 85% is water • Was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006 • Location: Korsnäs, Malax, Korsholm, Vaasa, Vörå
• Metsähallitus is responsible for the administration of the area and coor- dination of development work there in cooperation with municipalities, and cares for government-owned land and water areas, which constitute 42% of the surface area of the World Heritage Site.
• Kvarken World Heritage area customer service tel. +358 50 346 6200, NIO M O UN IM D R T IA
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H O E M R I E TA IN G O World Heritage Site E • PATRIM United Nations High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago • www.nationalparks.fi/en/kvarken Educational, Scientific and inscribed on the World Cultural Organization Heritage List in 2006 www.kvarken.fi
• Cabins, fishing, and hunting permits: Kvarken Archipelago www.eraluvat.fi kvarkenarchipelago
@kvarkenworldheritage
The rocky Kvarken Archipelago, which Overnight camping is allowed near the has a campfire place, a composting dry is constantly on the rise, is Finland’s piers from August to the end of April. toilet and firewood. Enjoy the outdoors while only natural heritage site on the In the summer months there are guided conserving nature UNESCO World Heritage List. boat tours. The services of the Björkören rental cabin (7) and the Vargis open wilderness • Respect nature and show You can experience this kingdom of Mickelsörarna (4) offers many things to hut (8) are designed specifically with consideration to other hikers and rocks by wandering along the nature do and experience. A nature trail brings paddlers in mind. Both buildings have a campers. trails, canoeing, boating, fishing, wat- the visitor to shoreline affected by low pier for those arriving by canoe or • Keep in mind that there is plenty ching birds, picking berries or mush- glacio-isostatic uplift, and acquaint the kayak. A paddling visit to the Slåttskä- of privately owned land and rooms, or by joining a guided tour. visitor with the geology and nature of ret rest area (9) is a magnificent expe- residents in the World Heritage The Kvarken Archipelago retains a the Kvarken World Heritage Site. Along rience. The Björkören rental cabin can feel and the peace of the wilderness, the trail there are several foundations of be rented year-round (eraluvat.fi) and area. as well as memorable places waiting fish huts and boat havens from the 16th the Vargis open wilderness hut can be • Light fires only in ‘campfire place. to be discovered. century. A small café operates in the used without advance reservation. The Open fires are prohibited when a summer at a former Coast Guard station Vargis wilderness hut also has a lean-to, forest fire warning is in force. The Saltkaret observation tower (1) is and overnight accommodation is also a campfire place and a composting dry • Leave no trace. There are no located near the Svedjehamn fishing possible in the building. The yard by toilet. litter containers in Kvarken, so harbour and along the Bodvattnet the pier has a lean-to, a campfire place, pack your food so that no waste nature trail. Magnificent views over the and a composting dry toilet as well as Molpehällorna (10) is waiting for visi- is created. You may burn waste rocky archipelago, which was formed a sauna that can be booked. There are tors who enjoy the peace of the outer that is suitable for burning by the ice age, open up from the tower, good fishing waters in the surroundings archipelago of Kvarken. A nature trail in camp fires - all other waste which reaches a height of slightly over of the island. You can reach the island that starts at the yard has signs along must be taken away. 20 metres. The tower is also a good either by taking your own boat or char- the way that describe specialties of • You may pick berries and mush- place for spotting birds. Disabled per- tered transport. the area. At the end of the trail there sons who have assistance and visitors is a reconstruction of the old Molpehäl- rooms, but no stones or plants. with prams can access the lower level Fäliskär on Rönnskäret (5), is a stopo- lorna daymark, a monument to the first • Remember that moving around in of the observation tower using a ramp. ver especially favoured by boaters. The daymark in the Gulf of Bothnia. Next to the Valsörarna islands is permitted Along the Bodvattnet nature trail stands island’s daymark is the oldest in the Gulf the pier there is a campfire place and a only along the paths 1.5-31.7. Bodback, the former fishing harbour of of Bothnia. The former pilots’ quarters composting dry toilet. • Keep pets on a leash. the village of Björkö, which is currently and the boatyard building ”Docket” have • Fishing under the Fishing Act a museum area with numerous boat- been refurbished for use as accommo- World Heritage Gateway (11) offers you (www.eraluvat.fi). Angling and ice houses and boat havens. In the summer, dation. They can be rented during the information on the World Heritage and fishing are allowed with Everyman’s Highland cattle graze on the meadows boating season (www.solrutten.fi). On gives tips on the places to visit in the right. on the shore. The Saltkaret observation the shore there is a lean-to, a campfire Kvarken archipelago. World Heritage • Camping is allowed in the Kvarken tower has a campfire place and compos- place, as well as a composting dry toilet. Exhibition, Art Gallery and Restaurant Archipelago by the Everyman’s ting dry toilets available. and Café are located in the same premi- right, except for Valsörarna, where On the Öjen nature trail (6) in Sundom sed with the Gateway. Companies wor- The views and varied nature of the Som- the forest landscape varies from dense king in cooperation with the World Heri- camping is allowed only in the marö nature trail (2) are worth enjoying beach groves to rugged pine forest on tage Site organise cruises, offer guide special areas marked 1.8.-30.4. with the entire family. In addition to the top of the cliffs. The oldest trees are services, lodging, and food services. • Use of motor vehicles outside official nature trail there are unpaved roads in nearly 200 years old. There are signs roads is not permitted. the area that are suitable for prams. along the nature path with interesting www.nationalparks.fi/en/kvarken/ At resting areas there are lean-tos and facts about the nature, medicinal plants services/partners Instructions and rules in the campfire place as well as composting and folk tales of the area. The rest area Kvarken Archipelago: dry toilets. The Sommarö guardhouse www.nationalparks.fi/en/kvarken/ can be rented year-round (www.eralu- instructionsandrules vat.fi). EMERGENCY NUMBER 112 - KNOW The lighthouse island of the Valsöarna island group (3) has much that friends of WHERE YOU ARE CALLING FROM. nature and cultural heritage can enjoy. A NOT ALL AREAS IN THE KVARKEN very impressive structure is the red iron ARCHIPELAGO HAVE MOBILE lighthouse in the middle of the island PHONE COVERAGE! and the former lighthouse keepers’ METSÄHALLITUS 12/2019 buildings. The Valsöarna islands are a PHOTOS: METSÄHALLITUS/PEKKA paradise for those interested in birds. LEHTONEN, AND ANN-BRITT PADA
nationalparks.fi excursionmap.fi Observation tower in Klobbskat
11. World Heritage Gateway
Ostrobothnian museum
World Heritage Site Kvarken Archipelago