Ramsholmen & Eckerö @ a abdat

Ramsholmen nature reserve is located only a few kilometers from the island’s capital Mariehamn. Ramsholmen Nature Reserve in Jomala Municipality has been leased since 1925 by the province of Aland. Ramsholmen, which is about 12 ha, geomorphologically constitutes an ash-like hill of the so-called drumlin type, which are otherwise quite typical of the mainland landscape. The intention of the reserve is primarily to preserve a remnant of the cultural landscape that was previously typical of large areas of Aland through traditional practices in the form of clearings, meadows, etc. The flora and fauna are rich. On Ramsholmen, most of the noble shrubs and deciduous trees found in the Åland region are probably represented. From the species-rich seed-plant community, the most abundant occurrence is the common wild garlic (A. ursinum) and the St. Peter's keys (O. mascula). Ramsholmen is covered in wooded meadows, the most diverse type of habitat in Aland. In spring and summer the floral splendour splendour is stunning with wild anemones, ramsons, snake's heads and cowslips. There are mazes of hazelnut bushes, past pollard ash trees and coastal meadows with orchids and other rare species. The abundance of strong-smelling, garlicky ramson has probably given the area its name. In July the meadows are mowed in the traditional manner. Sea fowl, waders, hole nesters and other species breed or search for food in the rich grounds of the wooded meadow. To the east of Ramsholmen is Torpfarden, a sea bay with some of the finest bird life. Eckerö is a municipality of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finnish sovereignty. It is the westernmost municipality of Åland and Finland. The company Eckerö Linjen operates a ferry connection between Berghamn in Storby, Eckerö and Grisslehamn on Väddö, Norrtälje in Sweden. Eckerö's most famous building is the Post and Customs house. It is the largest building that has been erected to aid the postal services between Stockholm and St. Petersburg. The building was built during the Russian era in 1828. Architect C.L Engel made the construction plans.