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Åland

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Coordinates: 60°15′N 20°22′E / 60.250°N 20.367°E / 60.250; 20.367
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(Redirected from Alandia)
Not to be confused with Öland.
This article is about the region of Finland. For the constituency, see Åland (parliamentary electoral district). For the former province, see Province of Åland. For other uses, see Aland (disambiguation).

Åland
Autonomous region
Region of Åland
Landskapet Åland (Swedish)
Ahvenanmaan maakunta (Finnish)
Flag of Åland
Flag
Official seal of Åland
Coat of arms
Anthem: "Ålänningens sång" (Swedish)
(English: "Song of the Ålander")
Location of Åland within Finland
Location of Åland within Finland
CountryFinland
Autonomy granted7 May 1920[1]
First Regional Assembly (Autonomy Day)9 June 1922[2][3]
EU accession1 January 1995
Capital
and largest city
Mariehamn
60°07′N 019°54′E / 60.117°N 19.900°E / 60.117; 19.900
Official languagesSwedish
Demonym(s)
  • Ålandic/Ålandish
  • Ålander
  • Ålänning
  • Åländare
  • Ahvenanmaalainen
GovernmentDevolved parliamentary autonomous region
• Governor
Marine Holm-Johansson [d]
• Premier
Katrin Sjögren
• MP
Mats Löfström
LegislatureLagting
Area
• Total
1,580[4] km2 (610 sq mi) (unranked)
Highest elevation
129.1 m (423.6 ft)
Population
• 2023 estimate
30,541[5] (223rd)
• Density
19.07/km2 (49.4/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2007 estimate
• Total
$1.563 billion[6]
• Per capita
$55,829
GDP (nominal)2020 estimate
• Total
€1.1 billion
• Per capita
€36,200[7]
HDI (2022)0.937[8]
very high
CurrencyEuro (€) (EUR)
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)
UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Date formatdd.mm.yyyy
Driving sideRight
Calling code+358 18
ISO 3166 code
Internet TLD.ax
Websitewww.aland.ax

Åland (/ˈɔːlənd/[9] AW-lənd, Swedish: [ˈǒːland] ⓘ; Finnish: Ahvenanmaa) is an autonomous and demilitarised region of Finland. The League of Nations granted Åland autonomy in 1920.[1] Åland is Finland's smallest region by both land area (1,580 km2 or 610 sq mi) and population (30,541), representing about 0.5% of Finland's total area and people. Swedish is the sole official language, and Mariehamn is the capital.

The Åland Islands form an archipelago in the Baltic Sea, situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia. The region consists of the main island, Fasta Åland, where most residents live,[10] and thousands of smaller islands and skerries.[11] Geographically, Åland lies east of Sweden and west of Finland's Archipelago Sea. Its only land border is a short boundary shared with Sweden on the uninhabited skerry of Märket.[12] Ferries connect Mariehamn to Turku in mainland Finland and Stockholm in Sweden.

Åland's autonomous status grants its own government extensive powers to manage regional affairs independently from the central Finnish Government. The Treaty of Paris, signed after the Åland War, established the region's demilitarised and neutral status.[13]

Autonomy

[edit]
See also: Special member state territories and the European Union and Åland's Autonomy Day

The League of Nations affirmed Åland's autonomous status in 1921 following the Åland Islands dispute, and Finland's EU accession treaty later reaffirmed this status. By law, Åland is politically neutral and fully demilitarised; residents are therefore exempt from conscription into the Finnish Defence Forces. The Parliament of Finland granted Åland extensive self-government through the Act on the Autonomy of Åland of 1920, which was later replaced by revised acts in 1951 and 1991. The constitution of Finland refers to the current Act to define Åland's constitutional status within Finland. Under the Act, Åland also remains exclusively Swedish-speaking.[14]

Because Åland forms a separate customs territory, it held a separate referendum on joining the European Union on 20 November 1994, following mainland Finland's vote on 16 October. Ålandic voters approved EU membership with 73.64% support.[15] When Finland joined the EU, a special protocol concerning Åland was included in the accession treaty. This protocol ensures that EU law does not override Åland's existing restrictions on outsiders (persons without hembygdsrätt, or "home region rights") acquiring and holding real estate or providing certain services.[16]

Etymology

[edit]

Åland's hypothetical name in the Proto-Norse language was *Ahvaland. The Proto-Germanic stem ahwō is related to the Latin word for water, aqua. In Swedish, this toponym first developed into Áland and eventually into Åland, literally 'river land'—even though rivers are not a prominent feature of Åland's geography. The Finnish and Estonian names of the area, Ahvenanmaa and Ahvenamaa ("perch-land", from Finnish ahven, for the type of fish), are believed to preserve another form of the old name.[17]

There are several theories about the origin of the Finnic word Ahvenanmaa, varying from it being a Finnish variant of the Swedish Åland, it being the original name that the toponym Åland derived from, and it having formed independently.[18]

The official name, Landskapet Åland, means "the Region of Åland"; landskap is cognate to English landscape.

History

[edit]
Main article: History of Åland
Swedish Map of Åland from before 1667 with shipping lanes, harbours, churches and various boundaries marked

Members of the Neolithic Comb Ceramic culture started settling the archipelago some 7000 years ago, after the islands had begun to re-emerge from the sea after being pushed down by the weight of the continental ice of the latest ice-age. Two Neolithic cultures met on Åland: the Comb Ceramic culture and the later Pit-Comb Ware culture which spread from the west.[19]

Stone Age and Bronze Age people obtained food by hunting seals and birds, fishing, and gathering plants. They also started agriculture early on. From the Iron Age, Åland has six hillforts. From the Viking age there are over 380 documented burial sites.[19]

Construction of the Kastelholm Castle began in the 1380s. In 1505 it was captured by the Danish naval officer Soren Norby. In 1665 and 1668 the Kastelholm witch trials took place.[citation needed]

The coat of arms of Åland was originally to be granted to the Swedish island province of Öland in 1560; the two had been mixed up by mistake. It displays a golden red deer (which does not live in Åland) on a blue field.[20] This is traditionally surmounted by a comital coronet of the elder Swedish style.[21]

Along with Finland, Åland formed part of the territory ceded to Russia by Sweden under the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in September 1809. As a result, they became part of the newly established Grand Duchy of Finland that existed until 1917. During negotiations, Sweden failed to secure a provision that the islands not be fortified.

The Åland Islands during the Crimean War. It was here that the Battle of Bomarsund was fought.

In 1832, Russian Empire started to fortify the islands, with the great fortress of Bomarsund. In 1854, as part of the campaign in the Baltic during the Crimean War against Russia, a combined British and French force of warships and marines captured and destroyed the fortress during the Åland War. The 1856 Treaty of Paris demilitarised the entire Åland archipelago.[13] However, during World War I, Russia remilitarised the islands and began constructing fortifications to prevent a possible German invasion.[22]

Swedish artillerymen in Haraldsby during the Invasion of Åland in 1918

During the Finnish Civil War, in 1918, Swedish troops intervened as a peacekeeping force between the Russian troops stationed on the islands and "White" and "Red" Finnish troops who came from Finland over the frozen sea. Within weeks, the Swedish troops gave way to German troops who occupied Åland at the request of the "White" (conservative) Senate of Finland. The only remarkable battle fought in Åland during the civil war included the Battle of Godby [fi] near the village of Godby in Finström.[23]

Åland (blue) with historical and modern (yellow lines) provinces of the rest of Finland (gray) juxtaposed

After 1917, the residents of Åland worked towards having them ceded to Sweden. In 1919 96.4% of the voters in Åland signed a petition for secession from Finland and for integration with Sweden, with over 95% in favour.[24] Swedish nationalist sentiments had strengthened particularly as a result of the anti-Swedish tendencies in Finland and as a result of Finnish nationalism fueled by Finland's struggle to retain its position as an autonomous grand duchy due to beginning of country's active Russification.[25] The conflict between the Swedish-speaking minority and the Finnish-speaking majority on the Finnish mainland, prominent in Finnish politics since the 1840s, contributed to the apprehension of the Åland population about a future within Finland.

Finland, however, declined to cede the islands and instead offered the islanders an autonomous status. Nevertheless, the residents did not approve the offer, and in 1921 the dispute over the islands went before the newly formed League of Nations. The latter decided that Finland should retain sovereignty over the province, but that Åland should be made an autonomous territory.[26] One of the important proponents of a diplomatic solution to the case was Nitobe Inazō, who was one of the Under-Secretaries General of the League and the director of the International Bureaux Section, in charge of the International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.[27] The Åland convention of 20 October 1921, signed by Sweden, Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Denmark, Poland, Estonia, and Latvia, was the first international agreement achieved by the League.[28] Thus, Finland was obliged to ensure the residents of Åland the right to maintain the Swedish language, as well as their own culture and local traditions. The convention of 1921 established the neutral status of Åland by international treaty, prohibiting the placing of military installations or forces on the islands.[29] Åland's Regional Assembly convened for its first plenary session in Mariehamn on 9 June 1922;[2] today, the day is celebrated as Self-Government Day of Åland.[3]

Åland Islands status shown in public signage, Mariehamn

Because of the condition of neutrality under the 1921 Convention, the islanders enjoyed safety at sea during World War II, as their merchant fleet sailed both for the Allied countries and for Nazi Germany. Consequently, Åland shipping was not generally attacked, as the various military forces rarely knew which cargo was being carried or to whom.[citation needed]

Finland marked the 150th anniversary of the demilitarisation of Åland by issuing a high-value commemorative coin, the €5 150th Anniversary of Demilitarisation of Åland commemorative coin, minted in 2006. The obverse depicts a pine tree, a typical feature of Åland. The reverse features a boat's stern and rudder, with a dove perched on the tiller, a symbol of 150 years of peace.[30]

Politics

[edit]
Main article: Politics of Åland
The Parliament of Åland with flags of the European Union, Åland, Finland, and several neighbouring countries

Åland is governed under the Act on the Autonomy of Åland and related international treaties. These establish the region’s autonomous status within Finland and its demilitarised character. Finland retains ultimate sovereignty. The Government of Åland (Landskapsregering) operates under a parliamentary system, answering to the Parliament of Åland (Lagting).[14]

Åland maintains several independent institutions: it has its own flag, a police force, and has issued its own postage stamps since 1984.[31] It is an associate member of the Nordic Council, and its government performs the functions of Finland’s regional councils. Åland Post operates independently and is part of the Small European Postal Administration Cooperation.

Åland is exempt from conscription due to its demilitarised status. It is also a separate jurisdiction for amateur radio purposes, with distinct call sign prefixes: OH0, OF0, and OG0 (zero).[32]

Åland elects one representative to the Parliament of Finland. Its party system is separate from that of mainland Finland and includes local parties such as the Future of Åland (Swedish: Ålands Framtid), which supports independence.[33]

Homeschooling

[edit]

While homeschooling is restricted in Sweden, it is permitted in Åland under Finnish law. As a result, some Swedish families have moved to Åland, including members of Sweden’s national homeschooling association.[34]

Governance policies =

[edit]

Åland planned to introduce electronic voting for expatriate voters in the 2019 parliamentary elections, and considered expanding it to all voters in 2023.[35] The trial was cancelled shortly before implementation due to concerns over the system’s reliability.[36]

Åland's parties include a separatist party called the Future of Åland (Swedish: Ålands Framtid), whose main program includes driving autonomous Åland into a completely independent state.[37][38]

Åland and the EU

[edit]

Åland held its own referendum on membership of the European Union on 20 November 1994. A majority of Ålanders voted in favour of membership, and it followed Finland into the Union in 1995. A special Åland protocol regulates Åland's position within the EU. It has some important exceptions, concerning the right of non-Ålanders to own real estate and the right of non-Ålandic companies to establish themselves in the region, and concerning EU tax legislation. The last item's derogation means that Åland is considered a third country for tax purposes, which has had the most important effect of allowing the profitable sale of tax-exempt goods on ferries to and from Sweden and Finland to continue.[citation needed]

Administration

[edit]
Main articles: Åland State Provincial Office and State Department of Åland
An Åland licence plate

The State Department of Åland represents the Finnish central government and performs many administrative duties. It has a somewhat different function from the other Regional Administrative Agencies, owing to its autonomy. Before 2010, the state administration was handled by the Åland State Provincial Office.

The State Department is led by the Governor of Åland, who also serves as a representative of the Finnish State in Åland. The Governor is responsible for opening the Lagting on behalf of the President of the Republic. The Governor is appointed by the President in consensus with the Speaker of the Lagting. If consensus can't be reached the Lagting shall nominate 5 individuals of which the President shall appoint 1.[39]

Åland has its own postal administration but still uses the Finnish five-digit postal code system, using the number range 22000–22999, with the prefix AX. The lowest numbered postal code is for the capital Mariehamn, AX 22100, and the highest AX 22950 for Jurmo.

Municipalities

[edit]
Main article: Municipalities of Åland

Åland contains 16 municipalities. Over forty percent of all inhabitants live in Mariehamn, the capital.[40]

Population as 31 December 2024.[41]

Geography

[edit]
Main article: Geography of Åland
See also: Geology of Åland
Geographical features and municipalities of Åland
People hiking in Åland

Åland occupies a position of strategic importance, as it commands one of the entrances to the port of Stockholm, as well as the approaches to the Gulf of Bothnia, in addition to being situated near the Gulf of Finland.

The Åland archipelago includes nearly three hundred habitable islands, of which about 60–80 are inhabited; the remainder are merely some 6,200 skerries and desolate rocks.[11] The archipelago is connected to the Åboland archipelago in the east (Finnish: Turunmaan saaristo, Swedish: Åbolands skärgård)—the archipelago adjacent to the southwest coast of Finland. Together they form the Archipelago Sea. To the west of Åland is the Sea of Åland and to the north is the Bothnian Sea.

The Degersand Beach in Eckerö[42]

The surface of the islands is generally rocky and the soil thin due to glacial stripping at the end of the most recent ice age.[11] The islands also contain many meadows that are home to many different kinds of insects, such as the Glanville fritillary butterfly.

Åland's landmass occupies a total area of 1,527 km2 (589+1⁄2 sq mi).[43] Ninety percent of the population live on Fasta Åland, which is also the site of the capital town of Mariehamn. Fasta Åland is the largest island in the archipelago. Its area is difficult to estimate due to its irregular shape and coastline, but estimates range from 740 km2 (290 sq mi)[11] to 879 km2 (339 sq mi)[44] to over 1,010 km2 (390 sq mi), depending on what is included or excluded. There are several harbours.

Sheep grazing on a small island

During the Åland Islands dispute, the parties sought support from different maps of the area. On the Swedish map, the most densely populated main island dominated, and many skerries were left out. On the Finnish map, many smaller islands or skerries were, for technical reasons, given a slightly exaggerated size. The Swedish map made the islands appear to be closer to the mainland of Sweden than to Finland; the Finnish map stressed the continuity of the archipelago between the main island and mainland Finland, while a greater gap appeared between the islands and the archipelago on the Swedish side. One consequence is the often repeated number of "over 6,000" skerries that was given authority by the outcome of the arbitration.[citation needed]

Many animals that live in the islands are not native. Animals such as elk and other species of deer were introduced in the 20th century.

Climate

[edit]

Åland has a humid continental climate (Dfb) that is influenced by its maritime position, especially in summer. While summers are cooler than on both the Swedish and Finnish mainland, winters see little difference to the adjacent parts of Sweden and are only narrowly milder than in mainland Finland.

Climate data for Mariehamn Airport (normals 1991–2020, extremes 1914–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.9
(51.6) 		10.5
(50.9) 		17.0
(62.6) 		21.1
(70.0) 		27.1
(80.8) 		29.4
(84.9) 		31.3
(88.3) 		30.7
(87.3) 		24.8
(76.6) 		19.0
(66.2) 		16.6
(61.9) 		11.1
(52.0) 		31.3
(88.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1.0
(33.8) 		0.4
(32.7) 		3.1
(37.6) 		8.0
(46.4) 		13.4
(56.1) 		17.5
(63.5) 		20.8
(69.4) 		20.0
(68.0) 		15.5
(59.9) 		9.6
(49.3) 		5.2
(41.4) 		2.5
(36.5) 		9.8
(49.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.3
(29.7) 		−2.3
(27.9) 		−0.2
(31.6) 		3.8
(38.8) 		8.9
(48.0) 		13.3
(55.9) 		16.8
(62.2) 		16.1
(61.0) 		11.8
(53.2) 		6.8
(44.2) 		3.2
(37.8) 		0.4
(32.7) 		6.4
(43.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.3
(24.3) 		−5.5
(22.1) 		−3.7
(25.3) 		−0.1
(31.8) 		4.0
(39.2) 		8.6
(47.5) 		12.2
(54.0) 		11.6
(52.9) 		7.8
(46.0) 		3.5
(38.3) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		2.7
(36.9)
Record low °C (°F) −32.3
(−26.1) 		−32.9
(−27.2) 		−25.0
(−13.0) 		−18.9
(−2.0) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		−3.2
(26.2) 		0.1
(32.2) 		−0.5
(31.1) 		−6.7
(19.9) 		−11.8
(10.8) 		−20.0
(−4.0) 		−28.9
(−20.0) 		−32.9
(−27.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 53
(2.1) 		35
(1.4) 		38
(1.5) 		31
(1.2) 		35
(1.4) 		53
(2.1) 		52
(2.0) 		76
(3.0) 		61
(2.4) 		70
(2.8) 		71
(2.8) 		59
(2.3) 		634
(25)
Average precipitation days 17 13 12 9 10 10 9 13 12 16 17 17 155
Mean monthly sunshine hours 39 74 130 207 297 296 312 235 163 91 41 26 1,911
Source 1: FMI climatological normals for Finland 1991–2020[45]
Source 2: record highs and lows 1961– present[46]

FMI(record highs and lows 1914–1961)[47]

Economy

[edit]
See also: Transport on the Åland Islands
Mariehamn Airport in Jomala
Ferry port in Överö [sv], Föglö
The sailing ship Linden in Östra Hamnen, Mariehamn's eastern port

Åland’s economy is dominated by shipping, trade, and tourism. Shipping accounts for around 40% of economic activity, with several international carriers based on the islands. Other sectors are primarily composed of small businesses with fewer than ten employees. Farming, fishing, and food processing remain important. A few technology firms and the expansion of wind power also contribute to economic growth. In December 2011, wind power provided 31.5% of Åland’s electricity.[citation needed]

Key ports include the Western Harbour in Mariehamn, Berghamn on the west coast, and Långnäs on the east coast. The four main highways—1 to Eckerö, 2 to Sund, 3 to Lumparland, and 4 from Finström to Geta—connect major locations on Fasta Åland.

Mariehamn was once a hub for the world’s last commercial sailing ships, transporting Australian wheat to Britain until 1947. The Pommern, now a museum ship, is a surviving example.

Åland’s tax status is distinct within the EU. When Finland joined the EU, it secured a VAT exemption for Åland, allowing ferries between Sweden and Finland to continue offering tax-free sales if they stop at Mariehamn or Långnäs. This exception also requires tariffs on goods imported into Åland. While two million visitors arrive annually, most only stay briefly during ferry stopovers or transfers.[48]

As of January 2025, Åland’s unemployment rate was 5.4%.[49] The employment rate was 79.8% in 2011 and rose to 81.4% in 2024.[50]

Torggatan, a pedestrian street in Mariehamn
Bank of Åland, Mariehamn

The Finnish government collects taxes and fees in Åland and allocates a fixed share—0.5% of state income (excluding loans)—to the Åland Parliament. If Åland’s contribution exceeds that share, the surplus is returned as a "diligence allowance".[51] In 2010, Ålanders paid 0.7% of Finland’s total taxes.[52]

The euro is the sole legal currency, though many businesses also accept the Swedish krona.[53] As of 2006, Åland was the wealthiest region in Finland and ranked 20th among the EU’s 268 regions, with a GDP per capita 47% above the EU average.[54][55]

Bank of Åland is headquartered in Mariehamn, and the government owns Paf, a gambling operator also based in the city.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharper downturn in Åland’s economy than in Sweden or mainland Finland. However, economic recovery has since been underway.[56]

Demographics

[edit]

Ethnicity and language

[edit]
See also: Languages of Åland
Languages in Åland (2021)
Language Percent
Swedish
 
 86.0%
Finnish
 
 4.6%
Romanian
 
 1.8%
Latvian
 
 1.6%
Other
 
 6.0%

Swedish is the sole official language of Åland and is spoken as a first language by 86% of the population (2021). Finnish is spoken by 4.6%, while other languages account for the remainder. Public education is conducted in Swedish only, unlike on mainland Finland where bilingual municipalities provide instruction in both Swedish and Finnish. For details on the local dialect, see Åland Swedish.

There is some ambiguity regarding the ethnic classification of Ålanders. They are often described as ethnic Swedes or as part of the Swedish-speaking population of Finland. Linguistically, Åland Swedish is closer to the Uppländska dialect of eastern Sweden than to Finland Swedish.[citation needed]

Right of domicile (hembygdsrätt) is required to vote or stand in elections for the Parliament of Åland and to own property in unplanned areas.[14]

As of 2021, 17.3% of Åland’s population had a foreign background—the highest proportion among Finland’s regions. The largest group of foreign-background residents is from Sweden (7% of the total population), followed by Romania and Latvia.[57]

Population by country of origin (2021)
Country Residents
Total 30,344
 Finland 25,099
Foreign background 5,245
 Sweden 2,135
 Romania 557
 Latvia 477
 Estonia 211
 Thailand 169
 Russia 146
 Germany 126
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Former Yugoslavia 114
 Iran 104
 Philippines 98
 Poland 83
 United Kingdom 71
 Ukraine 65
 Syria 55
 Morocco 54
 Lithuania 43
 Norway 43
 United States 38
 Brazil 35
 Vietnam 35
Other 586

Population structure

[edit]
Population by sex and age group (1 July 2021)[58]
Age group Men Women Total %
Total 15,039 15,198 30,237 100.0
0–14 2,536 2,446 4,982 16.5
15–64 9,223 9,011 18,234 60.3
65+ 3,280 3,741 7,021 23.2

Åland has an ageing population: over 23% of residents are aged 65 or older. Working-age adults (15–64) make up 60% of the population, while children under 15 represent about 16%.

Education

[edit]
Main article: Education in Åland
Ålands lyceum in Mariehamn

In 2010, Åland had 22 publicly funded schools: 12 primary schools (grades 1–6), eight combined lower and upper secondary schools, and two upper secondary schools.[59]

Post-primary education is available at Ålands lyceum (a general upper secondary school) and the Åland Vocational School, which offers a double degree combining academic and vocational studies. Ålands lyceum enrolled 432 students in 2018.[60]

Åland University of Applied Sciences has approximately 600 students and offers programmes in maritime studies, mechanical and electrical engineering, IT, finance, hospitality, and health care.[61] Maritime education is coordinated under the Alandica Shipping Academy.[62]

Instruction is in Swedish. Finnish is a compulsory subject at upper secondary level but optional in primary school; however, about 80% of students study it. In 2006, there was a proposal to make Finnish optional at all levels.[63]

Religion

[edit]
St. Olaf's Church, Jomala is Åland's oldest church.

As of the most recent data, 70.5% of Åland’s population belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland.[64]

Åland contains some of Finland’s oldest Christian churches. St. Olaf's Church, Jomala, built in the late 13th century, is likely the oldest. The largest is the Church of St. John [], located in Sund.[65]

Culture

[edit]

Literature

[edit]

Åland has produced several notable authors whose works are set in the islands. Anni Blomqvist is known for her five-volume Stormskärs Maja  [sv] series.[66] Sally Salminen gained international recognition with her 1936 novel Katrina.[67] Ulla-Lena Lundberg has written extensively about her native Kökar.

Cinema and television

[edit]

Several films set in Åland have gained recognition. The 2016 historical drama Devil's Bride, directed by Saara Cantell, portrays 17th-century witch trials in Åland.[68] It won Best Foreign Language Film at the 2017 Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto.[69]

The 2013 film Disciple, directed by Ulrika Bengts [sv], is also set in Åland.[70]

Sport

[edit]
See also: Football in Åland
Wiklöf Holding Arena in Mariehamn

Football is the most prominent sport in Åland. The Åland men’s national team competes in the Island Games, which Åland hosted in 1991 and 2009. The region also hosted the 1974 and 1977 tournaments. The Åland Football Association oversees local football activities and organizes competitions such as the Ålandscupen.

IFK Mariehamn is Åland’s top men’s club, competing in the Veikkausliiga, Finland’s highest football division. Åland United, founded in 2004, is the leading women’s club and plays in the Finnish national league. Both clubs are based in Mariehamn and play at the Wiklöf Holding Arena.

Additional local clubs include FC Åland, IF Finströms Kamraterna, IF Fram, and Lemlands IF.

Åland hosted the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Paf Masters, a women’s international curling tournament held in Eckerö.

The islands are home to the Åland Stags, a rugby union club established in 2012. Disc golf has grown in popularity in recent years, with several dedicated courses across the islands.

Heraldry

[edit]

The coat of arms of Åland displays a golden red deer on a blue field, traditionally surmounted by a comital coronet in the Swedish heraldic style.[21] This coat of arms was mistakenly granted to Öland in 1560 before being formally adopted by Åland.[20]

Notable people

[edit]
Georg August Wallin
Sally Salminen, 1941
Daniel Sjölund, 2010

Arts, literature, and academia

[edit]

Politics and public life

[edit]

Business and maritime

[edit]
  • Robert Mattson (1851–1935), shipowner and businessman
  • Gustaf Erikson (1872–1947), shipowner; operated the last fleet of commercial sailing ships

Design and architecture

[edit]
  • Stefan Lindfors (born 1962), industrial and interior designer, filmmaker, and sculptor

Sport

[edit]
  • Kaarlo Mäkinen (1892–1980), freestyle wrestler; Olympic medalist in 1924 and 1928
  • Frej Liewendahl (1902–1966), track and field athlete; gold medalist in 1924 Summer Olympics team event
  • Johan Hellström (1907–1989), Olympic boxer (1928)
  • Daniel Sjölund (born 1983), footballer; 380 club appearances and 37 caps for Finland
  • Robert Helenius (born 1984), heavyweight boxer, resident of Åland
  • Annica Sjölund (born 1985), footballer; 67 caps for the Finland women's national team
  • Adelina Engman (born 1994), footballer; 84 caps for the Finland women's national team

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Hannum, Hurst (1993). "Agreement between Sweden and Finland Relating to Guarantees in the Law of 7 May 1920 on the Autonomy of the Aaland Islands". Basic Documents on Autonomy and Minority Rights. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 141. ISBN 0-7923-1977-X. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
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Further reading

[edit]
  • Barros, James (1968). The Åland Islands Question: Its Settlement by the League of Nations. New Haven: Yale University Press. OCLC 875684322. Retrieved 26 January 2025 – via Google Books.
  • Mead, W. R.; Members of the Geographical Field Group (1964). Saltvik: Studies from an Åland Parish. Geographical Field Group Regional Studies. Vol. 10. Nottingham, England: Geographical Field Group, The University. OCLC 38532.
  • Sederholm, J. J. (1934). On Migmatites and Associated Pre-Cambrian Rocks of Southwestern Finland, Part III: The Åland Islands. Suomen Geologinen Toimikunta. Vol. 107. Helsinki: Government Press. OCLC 312139073.
[edit]

60°15′N 20°22′E / 60.250°N 20.367°E / 60.250; 20.367

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