Öland

Öland is the second-largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden. It covers an area of 1,342 square kilometres (518 square miles) and is located in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland. Over 26,000 people live on the island.

The island is separated from the mainland by the Kalmar Strait and is connected by the Öland Bridge, which opened on 30 September 1972. Kalmar, the county seat on the mainland, is an important commercial centre for the island's economy. Öland's two municipalities are Borgholm and Mörbylånga.

Much of Öland is farmland, with fertile plains that benefit from mild and sunny summer weather. The island is fully integrated into Sweden as part of Kalmar County and does not have separate political representation at the national level.

Administration

The traditional provinces of Sweden are no longer used for government matters, but they still have cultural importance. Öland is part of Kalmar County and includes the two areas Borgholm and Mörbylånga. Between 1819 and 1826, there was a special area called Öland County, but after that, Öland has been part of Kalmar County since 1634.

Heraldry

Main article: Coat of arms of Öland

Öland received its special symbol in 1560, but it took until the 1940s to fix the right one. There had been a mix-up with another place called Åland. Öland’s symbol shows a deer to represent its history as a special area for royalty, and it is topped with a crown. The design is described as: "Azure a Deer Or attired, hoofed and gorged Gules".^{[citation needed]}

History

Archaeological evidence shows that people lived on the island of Öland about 8000 BC. Early hunters and gatherers lived there during the Paleolithic era. During the Stone Age, people from the mainland crossed an ice bridge over the Kalmar Strait to settle on the island.

By 6000 BC, Stone Age settlements existed at places like Alby. Burial grounds from the Iron Age and Viking Age can still be seen at locations such as Gettlinge and Hulterstad. There are nineteen Iron Age ringforts on the island, and one of them, Eketorp, has been fully excavated. Around 900 AD, the island was called "Eowland" by Wulfstan of Hedeby. The island was also an important royal game park in Swedish history, with places like Ottenby and Halltorp being used by the Swedish Crown during the Middle Ages.

Geography

Öland is the second largest island in Sweden. It is located in the Baltic Sea near the coast of Småland. The island has many towns and villages, including Borgholm, Färjestaden, and Mörbylånga.

Climate

Öland has a climate that changes a lot between summer and winter. There are two main weather stations, one at the north end and one at the south end of the island. Even though the northern part is farther north, it is milder than the southern part. This is because warm air from nearby land helps keep it warmer during the day, while the sea keeps it cooler at night. The northern station shows what the weather is usually like across most of the island, while the far south can be much cooler.

Environment

The big natural feature of Öland is the Stora Alvaret, a special limestone pavement that gives a home to many rare and endangered plants and animals. Famous scientist Linnaeus studied this area in 1741. The rocks under Öland are mostly sandstone and limestone that are very old, some from about 540 to 450 million years ago.

Öland has a road around the edge called Route 136. There was talk about looking for natural gas on the island, but some people worried it might hurt the water because of the cracks in the limestone.

Important Bird Area

The east coast of Öland, with its grassy fields, marshes, chalk cliffs, and sandbanks, is a special place for birds. It helps many kinds of water birds, wading birds, and terns live, including white-tailed sea-eagles.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Öland

Öland has many special places and traditions. Borgholm Castle was built a long time ago between 1669 and 1681 for a queen, and nearby is Solliden Palace, where the royal family spends their summers.

The southern part of Öland has a special limestone area called Stora Alvaret, which is so important it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. This area has rare plants, old remains from long ago like Gettlinge and Eketorp, old wooden windmills, and a special kind of landscape called an alvar.

Every October, Öland holds a harvest festival named Skördefesten. During this time, farmers come together to sell their crops and let people see what life is like on a farm. There are also many art shows, especially during an event called Konstnatten.

Many writers have lived on or written about Öland, including the poet Erik Johan Stagnelius and more recent writers like Margit Friberg, Anna Rydstedt, Birgitta Trotzig, Eva Bexell, Johan Theorin, and others.

Transport

Öland has an airport called Kalmar Öland Airport. From there, you can fly directly to Stockholm on flights operated by Scandinavian Airlines. The airport is actually on the mainland, about 17 kilometers from Öland, near the city of Kalmar. You can get there from Öland by crossing the Öland bridge.

Skördefest

Skördefest is a fun yearly festival on Öland that happens in September. Many people come to enjoy it. During the festival, pumpkins are placed on top of hay bales to show that fall harvest goods are for sale. In Borgholm, a big scarecrow made only of gourds called a pumpagubbe (pumpkin man) is put up in the town center to celebrate the harvest.

Sports

Football in the province is managed by the Smålands Fotbollförbund. Every year, a special event called the King's Rally happens on Öland. This rally features old cars driving together in a fun motorcade.