Lulea Archipelago

The archipelago off Lulea is usually counted at around thirteen hundred islands, and it differs from the southern Swedish archipelagos in two ways: the water at the top of the Bothnian Bay is nearly fresh, so the shore vegetation and the fish are freshwater rather than marine, and the land is rising fast enough - close to a centimetre a year - that new islands emerge and channels close within decades. Several islands have fishing hamlets, cabins and saunas, and Klubbviken, Brandoskar and Sandon take summer boats. In winter the bay freezes solid and marked ice roads and ski tracks run out to the islands instead.

What you actually see

• Around thirteen hundred low islands - in nearly fresh water.
• Land rising close to a centimetre a year - new islands emerging.
• Fishing hamlets and saunas - on the larger islands.
• Ice roads in winter - replacing the summer boats.

When to go

June to August by boat; February to March on the ice. A full day or overnight.

Honest expectations

Boats run a short season. Ice conditions vary and routes are only safe when marked and opened. Facilities on the islands are minimal. Mosquitoes are heavy in summer.

Nearby

Gammelstad church town is inland; Pite Havsbad is south.