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. More than 26,000 people live there.

The island is separated from the mainland by the Kalmar Strait and is connected by the Öland Bridge, which opened in 1972. Kalmar, the county town on the mainland, helps support the island's economy. Öland's two municipalities are Borgholm and Mörbylånga.

Much of Öland is farmland, with fertile plains that enjoy mild and sunny summer weather. The island is part of Kalmar County and shares the same government as the rest of Sweden.

Administration

The old provinces of Sweden are not used for government anymore, but they still matter culturally. Öland is in Kalmar County and has two main areas: Borgholm and Mörbylånga. From 1819 to 1826, Öland had its own area called Öland County. Since 1634, Öland has been part of Kalmar County.

Heraldry

Main article: Coat of arms of Öland

Öland got its special symbol in 1560. It was not until the 1940s that the right symbol was chosen. There had been some confusion with another place called Åland. Öland’s symbol shows a deer to remind people of its past as a special place for royalty, topped with a crown. The design is described as: "Azure a Deer Or attired, hoofed and gorged Gules".^{[citation needed]}

History

People lived on the island of Öland about 8000 BC. Early hunters and gatherers were there during the Paleolithic era. During the Stone Age, people came from the mainland across an ice bridge over the Kalmar Strait to live on the island.

By 6000 BC, Stone Age settlements were at places like Alby. Burial grounds from the Iron Age and Viking Age can still be seen at Gettlinge and Hulterstad. There are nineteen Iron Age ringforts on the island. 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. Places like Ottenby and Halltorp were used by the Swedish Crown during the Middle Ages.

Geography

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

Climate

Öland's weather 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 north is farther north, it is milder than the south. Warm air from nearby land helps keep it warmer during the day, and the sea keeps it cooler at night. The northern station shows the usual weather for most of the island, while the far south can be much cooler.

Environment

Öland has a special place called the Stora Alvaret. This area is made of limestone and gives a home to many rare plants and animals. Famous scientist Linnaeus visited this area in 1741. The rocks on Öland are mostly sandstone and limestone. Some of these rocks are very old, from about 540 to 450 million years ago.

Öland has a road around the edge called Route 136. Some people wanted to look for natural gas on the island, but others were worried it might hurt the water because of the cracks in the limestone.

Important Bird Area

The east coast of Öland has grassy fields, marshes, chalk cliffs, and sandbanks. This area 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 for a queen. Nearby is Solliden Palace, where the royal family spends their summers.

The southern part of Öland has a special limestone area called Stora Alvaret. This area is so important that it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here you can find rare plants, old remains like Gettlinge and Eketorp, old wooden windmills, and a special landscape called an alvar.

Every October, Öland holds a harvest festival named Skördefesten. During this time, farmers come together to sell their crops and show people 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 to Stockholm on flights by Scandinavian Airlines. The airport is on the mainland, about 17 kilometers from Öland, near the city of Kalmar. You can reach it from Öland by crossing the Öland bridge.

Skördefest

Skördefest is a fun yearly festival on Öland in September. Many people come to enjoy it. During the festival, pumpkins are placed on hay bales to show that fall harvest goods are for sale. In Borgholm, a big scarecrow made 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 event has old cars driving together in a fun motorcade.