View source for Öland

{{Short description|Second-largest island in Sweden}}
{{About||the Finnish region|Åland|other uses|Oland (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Öland
| image_flag         = Flag of Oland.svg
| image_shield       = Ölands vapen crowned.svg
| shield_size        = 100px
| image_map          = Sverigekarta-Landskap Öland.svg
| settlement_type    = [[Provinces of Sweden|Historical province]]
| map_caption        = Location of Öland in Sweden
| area_total_km2     = 1345.44
| area_note          = <ref name="SCB - Statistikdatabasen">{{cite web |url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/sv/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101A/FolkmangdDistrikt/table/tableViewLayout1/ |title=Folkmängd 31 december; ålder |website=Statistikdatabasen |access-date=1 June 2024 }}</ref>
| population_as_of   = 31 December 2024
| population_total   = 26,892
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +01:00
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +02:00
}}

{{Infobox islands
| name               = Öland
| motto              = 
| image_caption      = Map of Öland
| image_size         = 200px
| map                = Sweden
| native_name        = 
| native_name_link   = 
| nickname           = Island of the Sun and winds
| location           = [[Baltic Sea]]
| coordinates        = {{Coord|56|44|N|16|40|E|region:SE_type:isle_scale:1250000|display=inline, title}}
| archipelago        = 
| total_islands      = 
| major_islands      = 
| area_km2           = 1,342
| length_km          = 137
| width_km           = 16
| highest_mount      = Högsrum
| elevation_m        = 55
| country            = [[Sweden]]
| country_admin_divisions_title = County
| country_admin_divisions = [[Kalmar County]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Municipality
| country_admin_divisions_1 = [[Borgholm Municipality]] and [[Mörbylånga Municipality]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = 
| country_admin_divisions_2 = 
| country_largest_city = Färjestaden
| country_largest_city_population = 5 018 inv.
| population         = 25,846
| population_as_of   = 2016
| population_footnotes = <ref name="population">{{Cite web |url=https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/befolkning/befolkningens-sammansattning/befolkningsstatistik/pong/tabell-och-diagram/helarsstatistik--forsamling-landskap-och-stad/folkmangd-i-landskapen-den-31-december-2016/ |title=Folkmängd i landskapen den 31 december 2016 |date=21 March 2017 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |language=sv |access-date=25 November 2017}}</ref>
| density_km2        = 18.63
| ethnic_groups      = [[Swedish people|Swedish]]
| demonym            = Ölandish
| additional_info    = 
| module             = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Öland, eastern coastal areas
| designation1_date = 5 December 1974
| designation1_number = 18<ref>{{Cite web|title=Öland, eastern coastal areas|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/18|accessdate=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
}}

'''Öland''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|ɜːr|l|æ|n|d}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|ɜːr|l|ɑː|n|d|,_|ˈ|ʌ|l|-}};<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190608011946/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/%C3%96land "Öland"] (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/%C3%96land |title=Öland |dictionary=[[Lexico|Oxford Dictionaries]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] }}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Öland|accessdate=29 April 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|sv|ˈø̌ːland|lang|sv-Öland.ogg}}; sometimes written '''''Oland''''' internationally) is the second-largest [[list of islands of Sweden|Swedish island]] and the smallest of the traditional [[provinces of Sweden]]. Öland has an area of {{convert|1,342|km2|abbr=off}} and is located in the [[Baltic Sea]] just off the coast of [[Småland]]. The island has over 26,000 inhabitants.<ref name="population" /> 

It is separated from the mainland by the [[Kalmar Strait]] and connected to it by the {{convert|6|km|mi|frac=2|adj=on}} [[Öland Bridge]], which opened on 30 September 1972. The county seat [[Kalmar]] is on the mainland at the other end of the bridge and is an important commercial centre related to the Öland economy. The island's two municipalities are [[Borgholm Municipality|Borgholm]] and [[Mörbylånga Municipality|Mörbylånga]] named after their municipal seats. Much of the island is farmland, with fertile plains aided by the mild and sunny weather during summer.

Öland does not have separate political representation at the national level, and is [[Politics of Sweden|fully integrated into Sweden]] as part of [[Kalmar County]].

==Administration==
The traditional [[provinces of Sweden]] no longer serve administrative or political purposes but still exist as historical and cultural entities. Öland is part of the administrative [[Counties of Sweden|county]] of [[Kalmar County]] (''Kalmar län'') and consists of the two [[Municipalities of Sweden|municipalities]] of [[Borgholm Municipality|Borgholm]] and [[Mörbylånga Municipality|Mörbylånga]]. There was an [[Öland County]] in the short period between 1819 and 1826; otherwise, the island has been part of Kalmar County since 1634.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==Heraldry==
{{Main article|Coat of arms of Öland}}
[[File:Öland vapen.svg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|Coat of arms and flag of Öland, used since 1555]]

Öland was granted provincial arms in 1560, but it would not be until the 1940s that the province was assigned its proper ones. The arms granted to ''Öland'' had been mixed up with the arms granted to ''[[Åland]]'' and this was not discovered until the 20th century. While Öland changed its coat of arms, Åland, which was now a [[Finland|Finnish]] (autonomous) province, kept its established but originally unintended coat of arms. The deer is meant to symbolize the status of Öland as a royal [[Game reserve|game park]] and the arms are topped by a ducal crown. Blazon: "Azure a Deer Or attired, hoofed and gorged Gules".{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==History==
[[File:Öland Gettlinge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Iron Age burial ground at Gettlinge]]

Archaeological evidence indicates the island of Öland was settled about 8000&nbsp;BC, with excavations dating from the [[Paleolithic]] era showing the presence of [[hunter-gatherer]]s.<ref>C. M. Hogan, ''The Stora Alvaret of Öland'', Lumina Technologies, Aberdeen Library Archives, 9 July 2006</ref> In the early [[Stone Age]], [[settler]]s from the mainland migrated across the [[ice bridge]] that connected the island across the [[Kalmar Strait]].

Evidence of habitation of Öland occurred at least as early as 6000&nbsp;BC, when there were Stone Age settlements at [[Alby, Öland|Alby]] and other locations on the island. Burial grounds from the [[Iron Age]] through the [[Viking Age]] are clearly visible at [[Gettlinge]], [[Hulterstad]] and other places on the perimeter ridge including [[stone ship]]s. There are nineteen Iron Age [[ringfort]]s identified on the island, only one of which, [[Eketorp]], has been completely excavated, yielding over 24,000 artifacts. Around 900&nbsp;AD, [[Wulfstan of Hedeby]] called the island "Eowland", the land of the Eowans:
{{quote|Then, after the [[Bornholm|land of the Burgundians]], we had on our left the lands that have been called from the earliest times [[Blekinge]]y, and [[Möre|Meore]], and Eowland, and [[Gotland]], all which territory is subject to the [[Suiones|Sweons]]; and Weonodland [the land of the [[Wends]]] was all the way on our right, as far as [[Vistula|Weissel]]-mouth.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4076|title=The Discovery of Muscovy|first=Richard|last=Hakluyt|date=1 May 2003|accessdate=16 November 2018|via=Project Gutenberg}}</ref>}}

However, this is not the first mention of the Eowans. There is an even earlier mention of the tribe in the [[Anglo-Saxon literature|Anglo-Saxon]] [[poem]] ''[[Widsith]]'':
{{poemquote|Oswin ruled the Eowans
and Gefwulf the [[Jutes]],
[[Finn (Frisian)|Finn Folcwalding]]
The [[Frisians|Frisian]] clan.
[[Sigar]] longest
ruled the sea-[[Danes (ancient people)|Danes]]}}

Scholars such as Schütte<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.northvegr.org/lore/sagabook/n002.php |title=Northvegr – Saga Book |volume=7 & 8 |access-date=19 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050221004512/http://www.northvegr.org/lore/sagabook/n002.php |archive-date=21 February 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and Kendrick<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northvegr.org/lore/history_viking/019.php |title=Northvegr - A History of the Vikings |accessdate=9 September 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050905153320/http://www.northvegr.org/lore/history_viking/019.php |archive-date=5 September 2005}}</ref> have pointed out that there was probably an even earlier mention of the people of Öland in 98 AD, by [[Tacitus]], who called them the "[[Aviones]]":

{{quote|After the [[Lombards|Langobardi]] come the [[Reudigni]], Auiones, [[Angli]], [[Warini]], [[Eudoses]], [[Suarines]] and [[Nuithones]] all well guarded by rivers and forests. There is nothing remarkable about any of these tribes unless the common worship of [[Nerthus]], that is Earth Mother, is considered. They believed she was interested in men's affairs and walked among them. On an island in the ocean sea there is a sacred grove where a holy wagon covered by a drape awaits.<ref>Tacitus, ''[[Germania (book)|Germania]]''.</ref>}}

In Swedish history, the island long served as a royal game park; [[Ottenby]] and [[Halltorp]] were in particular selected by the Swedish Crown in the [[Middle Ages]] as royal game reserves.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==Geography==
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical
 |image1=Öland Municipal centres.svg |caption1=Map of Öland |width1=220
 |image2=Homrevet, Northern Öland, Sweden.JPG |caption2=Homrevet, Northern Öland |width2=220
}}

Öland is the second largest of the [[islands of Sweden]] and was historically divided into one [[Cities of Sweden|chartered city]] and five [[Hundreds of Sweden|hundreds]].{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

===Cities and villages===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Alby, Öland|Alby]]
* Bläsinge
* [[Borgholm]] (1816)
* [[Gårdby]]
* [[Gettlinge]]
* [[Eriksöre]]
* [[Fagerum]]
* [[Färjestaden]]
* [[Hulterstad]]
* [[Köpingsvik]]
* [[Mörbylånga]]
* Norra Möckleby
* [[Öjkroken]]
* [[Ottenby]]
* Seby
* Segerstad
* Södra Sandby
* Stenåsa
{{div col end}}

===Hundreds===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Åkerbo Hundred]]
* [[Algutsrum Hundred]]
* [[Gräsgård Hundred]]
* [[Möckleby Hundred]]
* [[Runsten Hundred]]
* [[Slättbo Hundred]]
{{div col end}}

===Facts===
* Highest Hill: Högsrum, {{convert|55|m|ft|abbr=on}}
* Largest lake: Hornsjön<ref name="kort_fakta">{{Cite web |title=Korta fakta om Öland |trans-title=Short facts about Öland |language=sv |url=http://www.olandsturist.se/sv/Om-Oland/Kort-fakta-om-Oland/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505233053/http://www.olandsturist.se/sv/Om-Oland/Kort-fakta-om-Oland/ |access-date=3 August 2013 |archive-date=5 May 2012}}</ref>
* Length: {{convert|137|km|mi|abbr=on}}
* Width (at widest point): {{convert|16|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}

==Climate==
Öland has a semi-continental [[oceanic climate]] with considerable temperature differences between summer and winter. There are two main weather stations, one located at the northern edge and the other at the southern edge. In spite of the more northerly latitude, Öland's northern edge is far milder than its southern edge, since air warm over greater surrounding landmasses during days, whilst retaining heavy maritime features during night. It is also more representative for the island's general climate, with only the deep south being much cooler down a narrow peninsula.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Öland's Northern Edge, temperature 2002–2021; sunshine June 2008–2018; extremes since 1901
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 10.8
|Feb record high C = 14.5
|Mar record high C = 17.3
|Apr record high C = 23.3
|May record high C = 28.5
|Jun record high C = 32.0
|Jul record high C = 31.5
|Aug record high C = 31.0
|Sep record high C = 26.6
|Oct record high C = 22.1
|Nov record high C = 16.3
|Dec record high C = 12.1
|year record high C = 
|Jan avg record high C = 7.5
|Feb avg record high C = 7.7
|Mar avg record high C = 13.4
|Apr avg record high C = 17.5
|May avg record high C = 22.6
|Jun avg record high C = 26.8
|Jul avg record high C = 28.0
|Aug avg record high C = 26.9
|Sep avg record high C = 22.9
|Oct avg record high C = 16.9
|Nov avg record high C = 11.7
|Dec avg record high C = 8.4
|year avg record high C = 29.2
|Jan high C = 2.6
|Feb high C = 2.6
|Mar high C = 5.3
|Apr high C = 9.3
|May high C = 14.4
|Jun high C = 20.1
|Jul high C = 22.7
|Aug high C = 22.1
|Sep high C = 17.8
|Oct high C = 11.6
|Nov high C = 7.4
|Dec high C = 4.3
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 0.9
|Feb mean C = 0.8
|Mar mean C = 2.8
|Apr mean C = 6.3
|May mean C = 11.6
|Jun mean C = 16.3
|Jul mean C = 19.2
|Aug mean C = 18.8
|Sep mean C = 15.1
|Oct mean C = 9.6
|Nov mean C = 5.8
|Dec mean C = 2.8
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = -0.9
|Feb low C = -1.1
|Mar low C = 0.3
|Apr low C = 3.3
|May low C = 7.7
|Jun low C = 12.5
|Jul low C = 15.6
|Aug low C = 15.5
|Sep low C = 12.3
|Oct low C = 7.6
|Nov low C = 4.2
|Dec low C = 1.2
|year low C = 
|Jan avg record low C = -6.0
|Feb avg record low C = -6.1
|Mar avg record low C = -4.5
|Apr avg record low C = -0.5
|May avg record low C = 3.1
|Jun avg record low C = 8.4
|Jul avg record low C = 12.1
|Aug avg record low C = 11.8
|Sep avg record low C = 8.3
|Oct avg record low C = 2.6
|Nov avg record low C = -0.8
|Dec avg record low C = -3.9
|year avg record low C = -8.1
|Jan record low C = -24.5
|Feb record low C = -28.0
|Mar record low C = -25.2
|Apr record low C = -14.0
|May record low C = -2.0
|Jun record low C = 2.1
|Jul record low C = 8.2
|Aug record low C = 8.2
|Sep record low C = 3.2
|Oct record low C = -2.5
|Nov record low C = -7.0
|Dec record low C = -13.8
|year record low C = -28.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 28.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 19.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 20.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 16.2
|May precipitation mm = 23.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 36.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 54.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 49.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 22.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 42.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 39.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 31.5
|year precipitation mm = 
|Jan sun = 39
|Feb sun = 57
|Mar sun = 166
|Apr sun = 254
|May sun = 323
|Jun sun = 322
|Jul sun = 315
|Aug sun = 263
|Sep sun = 188
|Oct sun = 90
|Nov sun = 42
|Dec sun = 33
|year sun =
|source 1 = SMHI Open Data for Ölands norra udde, temperature<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.smhi.se/data/meteorologi/ladda-ner-meteorologiska-observationer#param=airTemperatureMinAndMaxOnceEveryDay,stations=all,stationid=77220
|title= SMHI Open Data for Ölands norra udde, temperature
| publisher = [[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]] | language = sv|accessdate = 11 May 2022}}</ref>
|source 2 = SMHI Open Data for Ölands norra udde, precipitation<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.smhi.se/data/meteorologi/ladda-ner-meteorologiska-observationer#param=precipitationMonthlySum,stations=all,stationid=77220
|title = SMHI Open Data for Ölands norra udde, precipitation
| publisher = SMHI| language=sv |accessdate = 11 May 2022}}</ref>
|date=May 2022}}

{{Weather box
|location = Öland's Southern Edge (2002-2020; precipitation 1961-1990; extremes since 1937)
|width = auto
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 9.8
|Feb record high C = 8.3
|Mar record high C = 12.6
|Apr record high C = 16.3
|May record high C = 21.2
|Jun record high C = 25.7
|Jul record high C = 28.7
|Aug record high C = 27.9
|Sep record high C = 26.5
|Oct record high C = 17.5
|Nov record high C = 13.3
|Dec record high C = 10.5
|year record high C = 28.7
|Jan high C = 2.8
|Feb high C = 2.4
|Mar high C = 4.3
|Apr high C = 8.0
|May high C = 12.1
|Jun high C = 16.5
|Jul high C = 19.4
|Aug high C = 19.8
|Sep high C = 17.1
|Oct high C = 11.8
|Nov high C = 8.1
|Dec high C = 5.3
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 1.3
|Feb mean C = 0.9
|Mar mean C = 2.5
|Apr mean C = 5.8
|May mean C = 9.9
|Jun mean C = 14.4
|Jul mean C = 17.0
|Aug mean C = 17.5
|Sep mean C = 14.9
|Oct mean C = 10.0
|Nov mean C = 6.6
|Dec mean C = 3.5
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = -0.2
|Feb low C = -0.5
|Mar low C = 0.6
|Apr low C = 3.5
|May low C = 7.6
|Jun low C = 12.4
|Jul low C = 14.9
|Aug low C = 15.2
|Sep low C = 12.8
|Oct low C = 8.1
|Nov low C = 5.1
|Dec low C = 1.8
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = -23.0
|Feb record low C = -20.4
|Mar record low C = -20.9
|Apr record low C = -8.7
|May record low C = -1.3
|Jun record low C = 2.8
|Jul record low C = 7.9
|Aug record low C = 6.4
|Sep record low C = 2.5
|Oct record low C = -4.2
|Nov record low C = -9.2
|Dec record low C = -15.9
|year record low C = -23.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 33
|Feb precipitation mm = 24 
|Mar precipitation mm = 25
|Apr precipitation mm = 24
|May precipitation mm = 27
|Jun precipitation mm = 30
|Jul precipitation mm = 41
|Aug precipitation mm = 39
|Sep precipitation mm = 41
|Oct precipitation mm = 35
|Nov precipitation mm = 43
|Dec precipitation mm = 37
|year precipitation mm = 400
|source 1 = SMHI<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month_year/normal_1961_1990/SMHI_month_year_normal_61_90_precipitation_mm.txt |title=Precipitation Normals 1961-1990 (Swedish) |publisher=Swedish Metereological and Hydrological Institute (Ölands södra udde code 6612) |language=sv}}</ref>
|source 2=SMHI Monthly Data 2002-2015<ref name=eather2>{{cite web |url=http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/temperatur/2.1240 |title=Monthly and Yearly Statistics (Swedish) |language=sv |publisher=SMHI |date=28 March 2016 |access-date=27 March 2016 |archive-date=22 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222021222/http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/temperatur/2.1240 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

==Environment==
[[File:Olandeketorp.jpg|thumb|Stora Alvaret on southeast of Öland with Eketorp Fortress in background]]

The dominant environmental feature of the island is the [[Stora Alvaret]], a [[Alvar|limestone pavement]] which is the [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]] of numerous [[Rare species|rare]] and [[endangered species]]. The first known scientific study of the [[Biota (ecology)|biota]] of the Stora Alvaret occurred in the year 1741 with the visit of [[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]].<ref>Carolus Linnaeus, ''Species Plantarum'', [[Uppsala]], Sweden (1753)</ref><ref>L.K. Königsson, ''The [[Holocene]] History of the Great Alvar of Öland'', Acta Phytogeographica Suecica 55, Uppsala (1968)</ref> The underlying bedrock layer is mainly [[Cambrian]] [[sandstone]] and alum [[chert]], and [[Ordovician]] [[limestone]] that dates from an approximate range of 540 to 450 million years ago. The Cambrian [[trilobite]] ''Eccaparadoxides oelandicus'' is named after the island.<ref>"Stenar och fossil", Per H Lundegårdh, Krister Brood, {{ISBN|91-518-3441-3}}, page 292.</ref>

Öland is served by a perimeter highway, [[Route 136 (Öland, Sweden)|Route 136]]. In 2011 the Gripen Gas company filed a request for test drilling on Öland for natural gas. The request was approved by Bergsstaten, the governmental agency responsible for handling geological issues regarding prospecting. The approval has been met with criticism on the municipal and county administrative levels, citing that the many cracks in the limestone bedrock could cause the groundwater to become contaminated by the gas prospecting.<ref name="ETC">{{cite web|url=http://dagens.etc.se/nyhet/planerad-gasborrning-p%C3%A5-%C3%B6lan|title=d|accessdate=16 November 2018|archive-date=14 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314222443/https://www.etc.se/prenumerant/nyhet/planerad-gasborrning-p%C3%A5-%C3%B6lan|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Important Bird Area===
The eastern coast of Öland, including its grazed meadows, marshes, chalk cliffs and sandbanks, has been designated an 30,000&nbsp;ha [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]] because it supports a suite of [[waterfowl]], [[wader]]s and [[tern]]s, as well as breeding [[white-tailed sea-eagle]]s.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/853 |title=Coastal area (including seaside meadows) of Eastern Öland|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2024|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 2024-09-04}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main article|Culture of Öland}}

The [[Borgholm Castle]] was built between 1669 and 1681 for Queen [[Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp|Hedvig Eleonora]], and designed by [[Nicodemus Tessin the Elder]]. In its vicinity sits the [[Solliden Palace]], summer home to the [[House of Bernadotte|royal family]].

The [[limestone pavement]] habitat of southern Öland, known as [[Stora Alvaret]], has been entered as a site of the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage]] program.<ref>Hakan Sandbring and Martin Borg, ''Oland: Island of Stone and Green'', May 1997</ref> Features of this are the many [[rare species]] found; [[prehistory]] sites such as [[Gettlinge]] and [[Eketorp]]; numerous old wooden [[windmill]]s left standing, some of which date to the 17th century; and the special geological [[alvar]] landscape.

For a decade, Öland has been organizing an annual harvest festival called ''Skördefesten'' that takes place every October. In terms of this event, the island's [[farmer]]s gather with farmers from the rest of the country and sell their crops and let those that are interested take part in everyday life on their farms, among other activities. There are also many art exhibitions for display during Skördefesten especially during the art night Konstnatten.

The romantic poet [[Erik Johan Stagnelius]] was born in the Öland parish of Gärdslösa in 1793 and lived there until 16 years of age. He wrote several poems about the island. More modern writers living on or writing about Öland include novelist Margit Friberg (1904–1997), poet Anna Rydstedt (1928–1994), novelist [[Birgitta Trotzig]] (1929-2011), poet Lennart Sjögren (1930-), children novelist [[Eva Bexell]] (1945-), poet Tom Hedlund (1945-), novelist [[Johan Theorin]] (1963-), poet and novelist Magnus Utvik (1964-) and novelist Per Planhammar (1965-).{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==Transport==
The island is served by [[Kalmar Airport|Kalmar Öland Airport]] which provides direct routes to [[Stockholm]] which are operated by [[Scandinavian Airlines]]. However, the airport is located {{convert|17|km|0|abbr=on}} on the mainland near the city of [[Kalmar]], which is easily accessible by crossing over the [[Öland bridge]].

==Skördefest==
Skördefest is an annual [[harvest]] festival on Öland, held every September, which attracts thousands of visitors. Pumpkins are placed upon the top of bales of hay, a signal to buyers that fall harvest goods are available for sale at the location.  In Borgholm, a ''pumpagubbe'' (pumpkin man), a large scarecrow like figure, built entirely of gourds, is erected at town center. The pumpagubbe celebrates the bounty of the Fall Harvest.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

==Sports==
Football in the province is administered by [[Smålands Fotbollförbund]]. Each year the King's Rally, a vintage motorcade, takes place in Öland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The King and Queen take part in the King's Rally |publisher=Swedish Royal House |url=http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/2010/2010/thekingandqueentakepartinthekingsrally.5.40e05eec12926f2630480006524.html}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Alby, Öland]]
* [[Gettlinge]]
* [[Halltorp]]
* [[List of places on Öland]]
* [[Ottenby]]
* [[Sandby borg]], a site where a [[ringfort]] and Roman artifacts have been found

===Battles===
* [[Battle of Öland (1563)]]
* [[First battle of Öland (1564)]]
* [[Battle of Öland]] (1676)
* [[Battle of Öland (1789)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage}}
{{commons category}}
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Öland |volume=20 |page=63 |short=x}}
* {{cite NIE |wstitle=Öland |short=x}}
* [https://dx.doi.org/10.11141/ia.37.10 Increasing Mobility at the Neolithic/Bronze Age Transition - sulphur isotope evidence from Öland, Sweden]
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/968 World Heritage profile]

{{Islands in the Baltic Sea}}
{{Provinces of Sweden}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oland}}

[[Category:Öland| ]]
[[Category:Islands of Kalmar County]]
[[Category:Provinces of Sweden]]
[[Category:Swedish islands in the Baltic]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Sweden]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Baltic islands]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in Sweden]]