Open horizon
A limestone plain.
Bernt Fransson — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Allie_Caulfield from Germany — CC BY 2.0 · Nasko — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nasko — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Allie_Caulfield from Germany — CC BY 2.0
Stora Alvaret, the Great Alvar, is a bare limestone plain across the southern half of the island of Öland in southeast Sweden, about 13 km east of Kalmar in a straight line. It is dagger-shaped, almost 40 km long and about 10 km wide at its broad northern end. Covering more than 260 square kilometres, it is the largest expanse of its kind in Europe and takes up over a quarter of the island. It lies within the Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its limestone formed about 500 million years ago in seas farther south and holds fossils of ancient marine creatures; the first parts of Öland only rose from the Baltic about 11,000 years ago. The thin, alkaline soil supports a wide range of plants, including rare species, and in spring and early summer bright flowers bloom among the rocks and short grass. Contrary to a common belief the plain is not treeless, holding sparse stunted trees, and shallow pools and old stone walls cross it. Visitors follow the paths in the nature reserves on the plain, take in the open horizon and wild flowers, and some watch birds. It is fully exposed to sun and wind, so bring water and a hat.
A limestone plain.
Rare species.
Marine creatures.
Southern Öland, Kalmar County, Sweden
Spring and early summer for flowers.
Water and a hat.