The Haparanda Archipelago is Sweden’s easternmost archipelago. Long sandy beaches, shallow sea bays and lush deciduous forests define the islands, which are also rich in flora and fauna. The national park includes Sandskär, Selkä-Sarvi and Heikinkari, as well as smaller islands and skerries. Its characteristic natural features include expansive sandy beaches, abundant birdlife and clearly visible signs of land uplift.
The Archipelago and Trails Through the Seasons
In summer, excursion boats run from Cementkajen in central Haparanda to two islands in the Haparanda Archipelago. As the service is seasonal, it is worth checking the timetable before your visit. Seskarö offers a different seasonal change: during the summer season, the Seskarö Trails area has about 60 kilometres of marked hiking and mountain biking trails. In winter, about 50 kilometres of winter trails and ski tracks are groomed there.
Seskarö Trails also includes several kilometres of kayak routes and ten rest stops. Those who prefer to explore on foot have another option in the Vuono hiking trail: about 15 kilometres long, it can be used for walking, running or skiing, depending on the season. It passes through old hay meadows and by cultural heritage remains. The same trail therefore brings together the landscape and traces of earlier land use.
The Struve Geodetic Arc and Perävaara
A special connection between landscape and the history of science leads to the Perävaara survey point. The Struve Geodetic Arc is a World Heritage Site: its chain of survey points was used between 1816 and 1855 to determine the shape and size of the Earth. Perävaara is the only Swedish survey point on the Struve Geodetic Arc where a marker remains.
A 400-metre footpath leads from a side road to the survey point. Information boards are located at the car park, at the start of the path and right beside the marker. In terms of practical navigation and scale, this is quite different from the approximately 15-kilometre Vuono hiking trail. At Perävaara, the focus is on a single survey point; on the Vuono trail, old hay meadows and cultural heritage remains are part of the route.
Cultural History in Kukkola and Kukkolaforsen
Two water-powered mills are part of the cultural village at Kukkolaforsen: the lower one dates from around 1840, and the upper one from the 1850s. The Delningsboden, also known as Jakopuoti or the Bell House, tells another part of Kukkola’s history. Built in 1889, it is one of the village’s more valuable buildings from a cultural heritage perspective.
Another tradition is fishing with a long-handled dip net, which has been practised at Kukkolaforsen for centuries. In the Torne River, the main catches are whitefish and salmon. Visitors can learn more about river fishing and what lies beneath the surface of the Torne River at the Tornedalen Fishing Museum. The Tornedalen Museum, meanwhile, has been a shared museum for Haparanda and Tornio since 2014. The two museums therefore focus on different things: one on river fishing, the other on the shared museum partnership between the two cities.
Cityscape and Exploring Nature
HaparandaTornio is a cross-border twin city on the Swedish-Finnish border; the E4 European route runs through the twin cities. Haparanda’s cityscape also features numerous public artworks. Statues, sculptures and monuments can be found in its streets and squares.
For finding your way to natural attractions, the municipality of Haparanda’s Naturkartan mobile app provides information about nature reserves, swimming spots, fishing spots, hiking trails and snowmobile trails. It makes it easy to explore the region’s varied offerings, from coastal landscapes and trails to cultural history.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Haparanda, Kukkola, Karungi, Luleå, Kalix, Arvidsjaur, Gällivare, Piteå.
For the broader travel overview: Norrbotten.
