Islands: Örö, Finland

Show us... Örö, Finland

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Örö is an island in the Archipelago Sea in Finland and part of the municipality of Kimitoö (Finnish: Kemiönsaari). The fortification of the island started when the Grand Duchy of Finland was part of the Russian Empire and there was a military base on the island until 2005. These days the main activity on the island is tourism and the main attractions are the nature and the remains of the military history.

1. Örö harbour


2. Marina


The above picture is from mid-April, but if I have understood correctly in the height of summer holidays this marina is very popular.

3. North end of the island hosts another harbour, which used to be the main harbour while the island was in military control, but these days it is used only rarely


4. Southwestern coastline


5. Czech hedgehogs on another part of the western coast


Other signs of the military past:

6. Pillbox


7. 130 53 TK ("130 mm rifled, 53 length caliber, turret gun")


8. 152/50 T (152 mm 50 caliber naval gun, model Canet, barrel Tampella)


9. 305/52 O (Obukhovskii 12-inch/52-caliber naval gun)


10. In the previous picture the gun does not look that big, but I guess the picture of the spare gun barrel gives slightly better idea of the size...


11. Entry to 305/52 O battery


12. Bunker entrance


13. Bunker with an antenna


14. The main roads on the island bear names that the soldiers serving there have given these cobble stone roads: "Short Misery" and "Long Misery" (and "vägen" is road in Swedish and the sign repeats the name since the municipality is bilingual)


15. Radar station


16. Misty beach


17. Suspension bridge is a newer construction


18. Former barracks and other garrison buildings are used for accomodation, but there is also a camping site


19. Örö specialty in nature is pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) since it is the only location in Finland where this flower is found


20. Common European adder (Vipera berus) is found on the island, here on top of mussel shells