Blå Jungfrun National Park

About this place

Blå Jungfrun, «the Blue Maiden», is a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea in the Kalmar Strait between the province of Småland and the island of Öland, about 21 km in a straight line east of the town of Oskarshamn. It is uninhabited, covers about 0.7 square kilometres and has a mean height of 86 m above sea level. The island became a national park in 1926; black guillemots nest here, and visitors may not stay overnight or light fires. Geologically it is an ancient granite inselberg rising from a very old plain; it was buried in sandstone that protected it from erosion until it was freed from that cover in geologically recent times. Half the island is smooth pinkish-red granite, polished by ice and waves into rounded forms, while the rest is covered in dense broadleaf forest. There are several caves and an ancient stone labyrinth whose stones may not be removed, the sea opens in every direction from the summit, and from afar the island looks blue on the horizon, which gave it its name. It is reached by seasonal boats from Oskarshamn or Öland in summer, and landings are possible when the sea is calm. The rocks are slippery after rain, and there is no water or service on the island, so bring what you need.