The
Åland Islands are a group of more than 6000 islands in the eastern
part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland, east of Stockholm.
The total area is about 1500 km2 and there are living approximately 25,000
inhabitants. Their main language is Swedish. Although
the islands have a certain form of autonomy, they still form a province
in Finland. For centuries the Åland Islands belonged to the
crown of Sweden, as was the case with Finland as a whole. Finland
- and the Åland islands - came in the possession of Russia in 1809.
During the Chrimean War (1853 - 1856) the islands of Åland were of
great strategically importance for Russia, but after this the islands were
demilitarised. To quiet a strong movement on the islands for Sweden
the islands got a form of autonomy, but the Finnish sovereignty over the
islands was confirmed in 1921 by a decision of the League of Nations. In
1951 the autonomy of the islands was renounced by the Finnish parliament,
but the inhabitants got special rights, including their own flag. Since
1984 the Islands have their own postage stamps.
Facts:
Ålands
hemsida - Ålands hemsida
- Description: Official home page of the province. Facts about the islands,
history of the autonomy, as well as links.
Åland
Tourist Guide - Åland
Tourist Guide -
Escapeartist.com:
Escape
from America Magazine - Escape
from America Magazine -
Living
Overseas:
Living
Overseas - Resources
for Relocating to Europe - Resources for Relocating to Europe - moving
to Europe - living in Europe - Real Estate in Europe. |
Stamp
Of Åland
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