What Can One Do in Kvarken Archipelago Nature Reserve?
Walk on Marked Trails
There are four nature trails and two
hiking trails in Kvarken Natura 2000
area. If you do not own a boat, you can reach the Björköby - Panike Trail, the Bodvattnet
trail and the Sommarö nature trail in the municipality of Korsholm, and Västerö
Trail in the municipality of Maxmo by land.
Many of the islands in Kvarken are important nesting
areas for birds, so it is essential to keep to the marked trails
during the nesting season, 1.5. -
15.7. Dogs have to be kept on lead at all times.
Go Canoeing
The peaceful and sheltered inner archipelago of Kvarken is ideal for
canoeing. Especially between the islands of Björköby and Replot, the labyrinth
of almost closed, overgrown bays, and narrow straits is an adventure for a
canoeist. You may make use of the Björkören (in
Finnish) and Vargis (in Finnish) rental
huts of Metsähallitus, located in the village of Panike in the municipality of
Korsnäs.
Go Canoe Trekking
Experience in canoeing is required if going to the outer
archipelago or to the large open water areas between the islands. In the
fragmented inner archipelago, and anywhere else on the sea, navigation skills
are needed. In the Kvarken Islands visitors can stay overnight in tents or at
rantal cabins.
Go Sailing or Motor Boating
Because the waters are shallow and rocky in Kvarken,
there are not many good natural harbours. You can explore the area making use of
the former pilot stations or coastguard stations which are now managed by
Metsähallitus, and called nature stations.
Information about other landing places you can find in the book "Käyntisatamat -
Besökshamnar" (www.finnlake.com) which
is published every year.
Go Bird Watching
The outer archipelago of Kvarken is one of the most important nesting areas
in the Baltic Sea for archipelago bird species. Most part of the Finnish
population of the threatened Greater Scaup (Aythya marila), for example, nests in Kvarken. The
Valsörarna bird watching station is maintained by a local association, Ostrobothnia
Australis
(www.birdlife.fi/oa, in Swedish). Birdwatchers may also rent
accommodation at the nature stations.
See the Sights and Scenery
- Kvarken Archipelago has been listed as one of the
Finnish
national landscapes. In the
idyllic villages and fishing harbours of Björköby, Replot and Bergö, the old
buildings have been well-preserved. Fields, outlined by stonewalls, are still
kept open in many places by pasturing.
- The most important sights in Kvarken Natura 2000 area
are the lighthouses of
Ritgrund, Valsörarna, Norrskär and
Strömmingsbådan and the many other navigation marks in
the area, such as the old wooden beacons which have no light.
- Nowadays the old pilot stations and coastguard
stations are managed by Metsähallitus, and being developed as nature stations.
- The view from the towers of the nature stations of Mickelsörarna
and Molpe (in Finnish) is
beautiful. There is an exhibition on Rönnskär (in Finnish)
Nature Station.
- From the
Replot
bridge, you can see as far as to the northern parts of Kvarken. The bridge is
the longest one in Finland, 1045 m.
- In the
Kvarken boat
museum (museum.malax.fi) in
Åminne, in the
municipality of Malax and, in the summer, also in the renovated old salting
building (Salteriet) in Svedjehamn on Björköby Island, you can find out
about the art and knowledge of the boat building methods of the area.
- There are many monuments of antiquity which are related to seal hunting,
fishing and navigation in the area, such as stone labyrinths and compass
roses.
See the Visitor Centre
Terranova - Kvarken Nature Centre is
situated in the same facilities as the Ostrobothnian Museum, in
the centre of the town of Vaasa. Its exhibition provides information on land
uplift and the natural features of the Kvarken area. Here you can also
find information about the World Heritage.
Walk on Nature Trails
There are four nature trails
in Kvarken Archipelago.
Go Fishing
In Kvarken Archipelago, angling and ice fishing are allowed according to the
Everyman's
right (www.environment.fi). For lure fishing, you need to pay the fishing
management fee (www.mmm.fi) and obtain the provincial lure
fishing permit for Western Finland (www.mmm.fi) from the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry or a permission from the owner of the water.
In the spring, you need to find out about declarations of a closed season on
spawning bays by the statutory local fishery associations. More information can
be got from the Fisheries services of T&E
Centre for Ostrobothnia (www.te-keskus.fi). Metsähallitus does not sell
fishing permits in Kvarken.
Go on Guided Group Tour at the Nature Station
There is a guide employed by Metsähallitus at Mickelsörarna Nature
Station during the summer. Groups can book guidance
in advance. On the island, there is a nature trail, along which you can see the
remains of a fishing camp from the 1500s. The guide also accompanies groups on
the nature trail.
Go Berry Picking
The Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
is the speciality of Kvarken. It can
be found on almost all the shallow shores. Nowadays,
hand-picking Sea buckthorn berries and using extractors is allowed without limitations
in time.
