Stockholm Archipelago
The Stockholm archipelago, is the largest archipelago in Sweden, and the second-largest archipelago in the Baltic Sea (the largest being across the Baltic in Finland). Part of the archipelago has been designated as a Ramsar site since 1989.
The water has a pH value of 7.0 (neutral) or slightly lower, to be compared with approximately 8.0 for seawater.
The archipelago extends from Stockholm roughly 60 kilometres (37 miles) to the east. In a north–south direction, it mainly follows the coastline of the Södermanlandand Uppland provinces, reaching roughly from Öja island, south of Nynäshamn, to Väddö, north of Norrtälje.
The Stockholm archipelago is a joint valley landscape that has been shaped – and is still being shaped – by post-glacial rebound. It was not until the Viking Age that the archipelago began to assume its present-day contours. The islands rise by about three millimeters each year.
Many poets, authors and artists have been influenced and fascinated by the Stockholm archipelago. Among them are August Strindberg, Ture Nerman, Roland Svensson, Ernst Didring and Aleister Crowley. Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson from the group ABBA wrote most of their songs in a cabin located on the archipelago.
Visiting the larger islands in the archipelago is easy all year round, but during winter period the routes depend on the ice conditions. Several companies have regular routes. The largest ship owner company is Waxholmsbolaget owned by the Stockholm County government. Taxi boats are also available. In summer the archipelago bristles with private boats filled with people who often take advantage of Allemansrätt (or "everyman's right"), a law which gives anyone the right to go ashore or anchor on any ground not in the direct vicinity of buildings.
Info:Wikipedia
