The outer archipelago is the most extraordinary out of all the municipalities in our archipelago city
Besides Pargas, Nagu, Korpo, Houtskär and Iniö so does also the outer archipelago belong to the city of Pargas.
The outer archipelago is the most extraordinary out of all the municipalities in our archipelago city: it has bare cliffs, but it also has areas that have leafy areas that consists of small island, islets and skerries. Some of these small islands are inhabited all year round for example the island Jurmo where about 10 people live all year round. The amount of people who lives out in the outer archipelago multiplies during the summer months because of all the summer guests and tourists. The climate is mild and the outer archipelago is the region in Finland where the sun shines the most. The island Utö is in average the sunniest place in Finland during the period May-August!
The outer archipelago is a part of the Archipelago Sea National Park and also a part of the Archipelago Biosphere Reserve.
Archipelago Sea National Park
In the Archipelago Sea there are more islets and skerries than anywhere else. The National Park was founded to protect the nature and culture of the Archipelago Sea, and the park is located east of Åland and south of Korpo, Nagu, Pargas and Kimito main islands. The park is 50 000 hectare and that makes it the largest of the four sea national parks in Finland. Most of the park consists of the barren outer archipelago but there are also some lush places where the vegetation is very diverse.
You can visit the park either by your own boat or you can travel around with the ferries that traffic in the archipelago. There might be some places that you are not allowed to visit during some periods, that is to protect the nature and the wildlife, and places you are not allowed to visit at all no matter the time. In the park you can camp and make fire but only on places that are marked for just that purpose. You are also allowed to pick berries and mushrooms. For more information about the park and practical things about it, click on this link.
