Fasta Åland

Coordinates: 60°08′53″N 19°47′18″E / 60.14806°N 19.78833°E / 60.14806; 19.78833
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Fasta Åland
Native name:
Fasta Åland
Fasta Åland is located in Finland
Fasta Åland
Fasta Åland
Geography
LocationBaltic Sea
Coordinates60°08′53″N 19°47′18″E / 60.14806°N 19.78833°E / 60.14806; 19.78833
ArchipelagoÅland
Area685 km2 (264 sq mi)
Administration
Finland
ProvinceÅland
Largest settlementMariehamn (pop. 11,048)
Demographics
Ethnic groupsSwedes

Fasta Åland (Finnish: Manner-Ahvenanmaa or Ahvenanmanner, meaning mainland Åland) is the largest and most populous island of Åland, an autonomous province of Finland. The island is home to the provincial capital Mariehamn. About ninety percent of the archipelago's population lives on Fasta Åland.[1] Its area is difficult to estimate due to its irregular shape and coastline, but estimates range from 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi)[2] to 879 square kilometres (339 sq mi)[3] to over 1,010 square kilometres (390 sq mi), depending on what is included or excluded. Even at the minimum estimate, Fasta Åland is Finland's largest and most populous island, with about 27,000 people. Its highest point is 129 metres (423 feet).

On the east side of Fasta Åland is a large bay, Lumparn, which is now believed to be the impact crater from a meteorite impact about one billion years ago.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Statistical Yearbook of Finland 2016, p.505. Accessed 2017-02-07. http://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_stv_201600_2016_16179_net.pdf Archived 2017-02-11 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 3. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.
  3. ^ Europe, Council of (2012-01-01). Biodiversity and Climate Change: Reports and Guidance Developed Under the Bern Convention. Council of Europe. p. 251. ISBN 9789287170590.
  4. ^ Svensson, N.-B. (1993). "Lumparn Bay: A Meteorite Impact Crater in the Aland Archipelago, Southwest Finland". Meteoritics. 28 (3): 445. Bibcode:1993Metic..28S.445S.