Archipelago National Park (Finland)

Archipelago National Park, located on the Southern tip of Finland, consists of thousands of rugged rocky islets and forested islands seperated by the Baltic Sea. The park forms the core area of one of the largest archipelagos in the world and is the first marine protected area to join the PAN Parks network. Visitors can explore the archipelago on nature trails that run across the main islands or in water by sea canoes or sailing boats. A unique experience is the underwater nature trail, where divers and snorklers follow a rope with underwater signs.

Wildlife: The islands are home to small rodents mooses. Baltic ringed seals and the more common grey seals use to laze on the numerous sandbanks. There are 132 breeding bird species in the Archipelago. Among them gulls, arctic terns, eiders razorbills, black guillemots, mute swans, greylag geese, arctic skuas, nutcrackers and many more. Thanks to conservation measures the white tailed eagle was saved from extinction and nowadays can be seen gliding in the sky again.

Location and access: Only the Blåmusslan Visitor Centre in Kasnas is accessable by car. Public buses go from Turku and Helsinki to the ferry departure points at Kasnäs (in Dragsfjärd), Prostvik and Pärnäs (in Nagu). The ferry connects with the key islands of the National Park Holma, Jurmo and Berghamn.

Admission Fee: Free

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