Country: Sweden
Area: 36.5 km²
Of which water area: 19 %
Gotska Sandön is the most remote island in the Baltic Sea and a secluded paradise, located around 21 nautical miles north of Fårö. With its extensive beaches, it attracts seals and boaters in particular. In 2015, the island served as a staging post for the ARC Baltic. Although it is forbidden to enter the seal sanctuary at Säludden, the hide (Gömslet) and the jetty there are accessible. From here, you have the opportunity to observe grey seals at close range.
Seals, sand and old trees
The island consists of drifting sand and is very hilly in places, with the Höga Åsen dune reaching 43 metres. Large parts of the island are covered by pine forests, some of the trees are up to 500 years old. The lighthouse, built in 1859, is still in operation and can be visited in summer on days when there are no ferries. Fyrbyn is home to the national park's supervisory and service staff as well as the nature and local history museum. Most of the hiking trails in the national park start at Lägerplatse. The shallow waters around the island are crucial for marine biology, which is why fishing is strictly prohibited.
Travelling by boat
There is no harbour. Depending on the wind, you can drop anchor on any beach. There are no shopping facilities on the island. The ferry from Fårösund and Nynäshamn operates from the end of May to the beginning of September and usually sails to Las Palmas beach.
General information on national parks
National parks are retreats for plants and animals where nature is left to its own devices. At the same time, they attract millions of visitors every year precisely because of their unspoilt nature. And that is the intention: As part of the conservation objectives, people should experience nature here and thus recognise its value and worthiness of protection - a constant balancing act between nature conservation and tourism. National parks are divided into two zones. The core zones may not be utilised commercially or in any other way; humans are not permitted to intervene here. Visitors may only enter the marked paths. There are also restricted areas on the water and rules for sailing, mooring and anchoring. In the other parts of the national parks, you can usually move around freely. This second zone is to be preserved in its existing form through special care and utilisation, such as grazing with sheep.
