Nature

PAN Parks Wilderness area Archipelago, is the first unique example of a marine wilderness. This is the only continuous marine fishing free zone in the Baltic Sea. This PAN Parks Wilderness hides many secrets of marine life: for instance, small isolated islands and rocks provide homeland for rare seals. Strict rules of wilderness protection exclude visitors from this part but other areas of Archipelago NP - accessible if respecting certain rules - provide similar experiences. Sea kayaking is a good choice to explore this very unique marine ecosystem.

Flora

The exceptional diversity of the vegetation at the Archipelago Sea arises from the small features of the landscape, and the variety of rock basement.  Although the park for most part consists of bare and rocky outer islands, calciferous soils nourished by shell remains and deposits of limestone can support luxuriant groves between the rocks. For example, ash (Fraxinus excelsior) often grows in the hollows. Around dry pasture meadows grow the Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum)and the Swallowwort (Vincetoxcium hirundinaria). On leaf fodder meadows bloom the Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) and the Nettle-leaved Bellflower (Campanula trachelium), and on the edge of the forest grow the Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus), and the Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris). Important marine plants are e.g. eelgrass (Zostera marina) and Chara, these provides shelter for many marine organisms.

Flagship species: Brown algae, Eel grass

Fauna

The park provides home to the Baltic ringed seal (Phoca hispida botnica) and the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). Other mammals living on the forested islands of the park include moose (Alces alces) and various small rodents. There are 132 breeding bird species in the Archipelago. Gulls (Larus), arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea), eiders (Somateria molissima), razorbills (Alca torda) and black guillemots (Gepphus grylle) nest on small bird islets. The mute swan (Cygnus olor), greylag goose (Anser anser) and shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) build their nests in the peaceful archipelago, while the arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) looks out on the high rocks. The nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) and barred warbler (Sylvia nisoria) live in the shelter of leafy trees. You can also catch sight of the white-tailed eagle (Halliaeetus albicilla) gliding up in the sky. It has been saved from exctinction by active conservation measures. Threatened species in the area include the caspian tern (Sterna caspia) and a subspecies of the Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii).

Flagship species: white-tailed eagle, Baltic ringed seal, grey seal