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Ostrobothnia, Finland
Photo: Xepheid, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Kvarken Archipelago (Swedish: Kvarkens skärgård, Finnish: Merenkurkun saaristo) is an archipelago in the narrowest part of the Gulf of Bothnia, between Finland and Sweden. Along with the neighboring High Coast of Sweden, it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is in the municipality of Korsholm, off the coast of Vaasa.
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Former fishing harbour reachable by road. A 4-km hiking trail in varying terrain, with campfire site (still?) and the Saltkaret observation tower, with views to De Geer moraines and the sea. Outhouse dry toilet by the tower.
Two-hour cruise on the M/S Corina via Norra Vallgrund or via Strömsö. Last-minute tickets may be available on board.
From Svedjehamn, Björköby. Includes boat trip, guiding, coffee and sandwiches.
From Abborgrund harbour, Västerö, Maxmo. Includes boat trip, guiding, lunch and coffee with cake.
From Svedjehamn, Björköby. Includes boat trip, guiding and lunch.
Summer restaurant in the Replot boat harbour.
Restaurant with lunch buffet and à la carte. Also a café that serves burgers, sandwiches and other grill food.
Nordic, European and archipelago cuisine, generally considered high quality.
Small restaurant and café with simple fare.
Pizzas, burgers, etc. Serves and sells Kvarken Brewery's own locally themed beers beers, along with a selection of other craft beers. The small brewery itself is in the Klobbskat harbour.
Open wilderness hut, 6–8 persons. Own mattress and sleeping bag. No potable water. Light by the white nights or own candles/lamps. Wood-fired stove for heating, camping stove may be needed. Latecomers have an absolute right to the facilities. Camping in the yard possible. Lean-to shelter with campfire site. Jetty. Leave the hut tidy, pack out any garbage. At most two nights.
Rental cabin, beds for 6 persons (two bunk beds and a sofa). Own linen. Electricity. Wood-fired self-service sauna (no sea water on the stove!). No potable water. Rowing boat in summer. Fetch the key by the Replot bridge. Clean the cabin before leaving. Pack out any garbage (sorted garbage can be taken to a locked recycling station).
Äbbskäret
Campsite. Few services. August–April only.
Anchorage. Camping allowed at the designated areas on shore August–April.
The best place to start your visit is the Terranova exhibition at the Ostrobothnian Museum, which is not in the archipelago, but in the nearby town of Vaasa.
Read in the guideThere are four designated nature trails for hiking among the islands of the archipelago. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at some of the nature stations, and are an excellent way of getting around.
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Vaasa · International · VAA
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