Top 6 Natural Monuments on the Åland Islands

THIS IS THE ENTRANCE TO THE CASTLE COURTYARD. THE STEEP CLIFF TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAVE IS 6 METERS. BUT TO THE ROCKS IT IS A BIT MORE. MR. PAUL MÖRN MEASURED THE SOIL LAYER OF THE COURTYARD AT 30 CENTIMETERS, ONE FOOT. IT CONSISTS OF MELTED PLANTS THAT HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED IN LAYERS SINCE THE END OF THE ICE AGE. -WITH KIND PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY HOW THE CASTLE COURTYARD WAS FORMED. PERHAPS IT WAS THE SEA SPRITE WHO CAME HERE TO RELEASE THE FOREST SPRITE FOR COMPANY. WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT THE OLD VOLLMAR TROBERG SAW THE SEA SPRITE NEARBY. HE IS A TINY OLD GREY MAN WITH LONG HAIR. -WHAT THE FOREST ROAD LOOKS LIKE IS UNKNOWN. BUT KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN IN THESE CLIFFS.

It is worth taking a short look into the cave to feel how the citizens of Geta felt when they had to hide from the Russians.

Zelten bei Mitternachtsstimmung mit Ausblick auf die Archipelagen - Blick auf den Hafen und den Überwachungsturm der Küstenwacht. Ungestörtes Zelten möglich. Camping in the midnight atmosphere with a view of the archipelago - view of the harbor and the coast guard monitoring tower. Undisturbed camping possible. Several of the ancient and historical monuments of Kökar are situated on Kalen, remnants of seal hunting activities both from the early Bronze Age and the late Iron Age, as well as extensive remnants of Russian fortifications from the First World War, and of Finnish fortifications from the Second World War. Today, there are only ruins left of the fortifications, but the place is still worth visiting. On Kalen there are also barrows, a labyrinth and mounds of stones that were used for making train oil during the Iron Age. There is a walking trail leading through the area. You can choose a longer or a shorter distance. A map of the walking trail can be collected at the office of the Kökar municipality, weekdays between 10 am and 2 pm. ​Remnants from the World Wars ​ 1915-1918 Russian coastal battery In spring 1915, the first Russians came to Kökar to set up a small radio- and surveillance post at Kalen. The following year they started to build a coastal battery, as part of a larger defense system, called ”Åbo-Åland Archipelago Position”. By the autumn of 1917, the battery was partly operational and consisted of three 120mm twin-guns with double barrels, placed behind concrete walls. A few hundred meters to NW there were a barracks compelx for the crew, 100-150 men, and for the workers. From the battery a small railroad for horse-towed wagons led down to the harbour at Sandvik. The construction works continued until January 1918, when they were stopped due to the turbulent situation in Finland and Russia. The battery was never finished. In the same year Finland, Sweden and Germany decided that the fortifications on Åland had to be destroyed. Accordingly, the coastal battery on Kökar was demolished in 1919. The military equipment was taken over by the Finnish Navy, the barracks were sold, and finally the permanent constructions were destroyed. ​ 1939-1940 Finnish costal fortifikation In the beginning of the Winter War, Kökar was fortified for the second time. Finnish troops arrived on December 2, 1939, and set up a temporary costal fort, consisting of three 152 mm naval guns. Although Soviet bomber aircrafts regularly flew over Kökar, they never attacked, and the battery never opened fire. After the declaration of peace on March 13, 1940, it was decided to build a permanent fort. This new phase started in April 1940, when 30 swedish construction workers arrived. Together with local workers from Kökar they started to build in reinforced concrete. The work were, however, abruptly halted in early July, after Soviet demands that Åland had to be demilitarized. The guns and the barracks were dismantled and transported to Alskär in the Turku archipelago, where a new temporarry fort was set up. Finally, in Oktober 1940, the half-finished constructions on Kökar were once again demolished. ​ 1941-1945 Finnish costal fortifikation In the first days of the Continutation War, Kökar was fortified for the third time in only 25 years. The same coastal guns were brought back, and during the following years a strong permanent fort was built. The main constuctions were three emplacements for 152 mm guns, one range-finding tower, one bunker, several machine-gun nests, and approximately 30 buildings. The largest project was a 50 m long tunnel blasted into the rock, containing technical facilities for electricity and ventilation, a fire-control station, and accomodation for 120 men. In a side tunnel there was a small field hostpital, with facilities for surgery and for treating the wounded and for surgical operations. In the cease-fire treaty signed by Finland and the Soviet Union in September 1944, it was stated that Åland once again had to be demilitarized. The fort was dismantled and the guns, ammunition and barracks were transported back to Alskär. In the spring of 1945, the very strong constructions were finally destroyed by the use of several tons of explosives.

Ramsholmen is a deciduous forest area. Deciduous forests were a natural part of the Åland landscape until the 18th century. However, changes in agricultural practices contributed to the overgrowth of most deciduous forest areas during the 19th century. Today, this type of cultural landscape is only maintained in a limited number of areas. The deciduous forest is our most species-rich natural type. During the spring and summer months, the floral splendor is intoxicating. Enjoy a landscape full of wood anemones, cowslips, clipped ash trees, hazel groves, and shore meadows, or simply poke your nose into the greenery and identify orchids, lilies, and other rare plants with the help of the field flora. The abundant occurrence of the strongly fragrant, garlicky wild garlic (Swedish: Ramslök) probably gave this area its name. Every year in July, the hay is harvested in a very unique way. The hay from the meadows and the leaves of the ancient, clipped ash trees are harvested as fodder for the animals. Ramsholmen also boasts considerable birdlife. Seabirds, waders, and other species breed here or forage in the diverse landscape. Torpfjärden, east of Ramsholmen, is one of Åland's most beautiful bird areas.

An enchanted world at the end of July, even when it rains. A variety of mosses, lichens, fungi. So pretty! The cup lichen Cladonia coccifera is in bloom.

Beautiful nature reserve with hiking trail.

In spring there are beautiful forest meadows in bloom! This is worth a trip, even a longer one. I recommend to visit in last half of may, as the scenery is simply breathtaking!

We hiked the loop in September 2023. After the scree at km 2.7 the signposts are very exposed. The former path goes past the large rock formation on the right, even if it doesn't look like it because nature has left traces (fallen trees, tall grass, etc). After crossing the meadow you will find the white path markings again until you take a sharp left curve/serpentine up to the rock formation. We had a wooden plank with a white arrow on the ground, which indicated the change of direction. Arriving at the top of the rock formation, it makes a slight left curve back onto the red sandy path that leads to the parking lot.