Mörbylånga Municipality
Encyclopedia
Mörbylånga Municipality is a municipality
in Kalmar County
, in south-eastern Sweden
, located on the island of Öland
in the Baltic Sea
. The seat is located in the town of Mörbylånga
, while the largest town is Färjestaden
.
The present municipality, making up the southern part of Öland, was formed in 1974. The eighteen original entities (as of 1863) had during the nation-wide subdivision reform of 1952 been regrouped into three larger units. Ottenby was amalgamated with Mörbylånga in 1967 and 1974 Torslunda was added.
Mörbylånga Municipality contains several ancient remains, just like the northern Öland municipality of Borgholm
. All in all, there are about 20 hillforts on Öland. The most notable in southern Öland is the fortress Eketorp
.
The entire southern part of the island has been listed as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
, basically the whole municipality of Mörbylånga. The reason is that the climate and bedrock
has made the area populated and cultivated for several thousands of years. Unlike the geology on the eastern mainland province of Småland
there are scarcely any forests on Öland, so people can conduct agriculture.
The southern parts of Öland also contain certain wildlife
areas. Many migratory birds halt here on their way north or south. Especially the southernmost outpost, the lighthouse
Långe Jan (Tall John) is visited by many birdwatchers every day, as many birds flock here until setting away over the ocean.
One fourth of the municipality consists of the nature area, Stora Alvaret
, a unique alvar
nature area containing by many endemic and rare
plants not found anywhere else. One can see several kilometers of just plains and the sky.
s (also called a Tätort or locality) in Mörbylånga Municipality.
In the table the localities are listed according to the size of the population as of December 31, 2005. The municipal seat is in bold characters.
Municipalities of Sweden
The municipalities of Sweden are the local government entities of Sweden. The current 290 municipalities are organized into 21 counties...
in Kalmar County
Kalmar County
Kalmar County is a county or län in southern Sweden. It borders the counties of Kronoberg, Jönköping, Blekinge and Östergötland. To the east in the Baltic Sea is the island Gotland....
, in south-eastern Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, located on the island of Öland
Öland
' is the second largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden. Öland has an area of 1,342 km² and is located in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland. The island has 25,000 inhabitants, but during Swedish Midsummer it is visited by up to 500,000 people...
in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. The seat is located in the town of Mörbylånga
Mörbylånga
Mörbylånga is a locality situated on the southern part of the island of Öland and is the seat of Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 1,784 inhabitants in 2005....
, while the largest town is Färjestaden
Färjestaden
Färjestaden is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 4,636 inhabitants in 2005. It is located in the southern part on the island of Öland and is named after the ferries that used to be the only connection to the mainland...
.
The present municipality, making up the southern part of Öland, was formed in 1974. The eighteen original entities (as of 1863) had during the nation-wide subdivision reform of 1952 been regrouped into three larger units. Ottenby was amalgamated with Mörbylånga in 1967 and 1974 Torslunda was added.
Mörbylånga Municipality contains several ancient remains, just like the northern Öland municipality of Borgholm
Borgholm
Borgholm is a city and the seat of Borgholm Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 3,093 inhabitants in 2005. It is located on the island of Öland in the Baltic Sea....
. All in all, there are about 20 hillforts on Öland. The most notable in southern Öland is the fortress Eketorp
Eketorp
Eketorp is an Iron Age fort in southeastern Öland, Sweden, which was extensively reconstructed and enlarged in the Middle Ages. Throughout the ages the fortification has served a variety of somewhat differing uses: from defensive ringfort, to medieval safe haven and thence a cavalry garrison...
.
The entire southern part of the island has been listed as a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, basically the whole municipality of Mörbylånga. The reason is that the climate and bedrock
Bedrock
In stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth. Above the bedrock is usually an area of broken and weathered unconsolidated rock in the basal subsoil...
has made the area populated and cultivated for several thousands of years. Unlike the geology on the eastern mainland province of Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
there are scarcely any forests on Öland, so people can conduct agriculture.
The southern parts of Öland also contain certain wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
areas. Many migratory birds halt here on their way north or south. Especially the southernmost outpost, the lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
Långe Jan (Tall John) is visited by many birdwatchers every day, as many birds flock here until setting away over the ocean.
One fourth of the municipality consists of the nature area, Stora Alvaret
Stora Alvaret
The Stora Alvaret is a limestone barren plain on the island of Öland, Sweden. Because of the thin soil mantle and high pH levels, a great assortment of vegetation is found including numerous rare species. Stora Alvaret has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its...
, a unique alvar
Alvar
An alvar is a biological environment based on a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse vegetation. It is also known as a pavement barren although this term is also used for similar landforms based on sandstone. In the United Kingdom the exposed landform is called a limestone...
nature area containing by many endemic and rare
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
plants not found anywhere else. One can see several kilometers of just plains and the sky.
Localities
There are 9 urban areaUrban areas in Sweden
Urban area is a common English translation of the Swedish term tätort. The official term in English, used by Statistics Sweden, is, however, locality. There are 1,940 localities in Sweden . They could be compared with census-designated places in the United States.A tätort in Sweden has a minimum of...
s (also called a Tätort or locality) in Mörbylånga Municipality.
In the table the localities are listed according to the size of the population as of December 31, 2005. The municipal seat is in bold characters.
| # | Locality | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Färjestaden Färjestaden Färjestaden is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 4,636 inhabitants in 2005. It is located in the southern part on the island of Öland and is named after the ferries that used to be the only connection to the mainland... |
4,636 |
| 2 | Mörbylånga Mörbylånga Mörbylånga is a locality situated on the southern part of the island of Öland and is the seat of Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 1,784 inhabitants in 2005.... |
1,784 |
| 3 | Skogsby Skogsby Skogsby is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 528 inhabitants in 2005.... |
528 |
| 4 | Algutsrum Algutsrum Algutsrum is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 499 inhabitants in 2005.Algutsrum Hundred was a hundred of Öland in Sweden.- References :... |
499 |
| 5 | Degerhamn Degerhamn Degerhamn is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 372 inhabitants in 2005.... |
372 |
| 6 | Vickleby Vickleby Vickleby is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 310 inhabitants in 2005.... |
310 |
| 7 | Gårdby Gårdby Gårdby is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 262 inhabitants in 2005.... |
262 |
| 8 | Arontorp Arontorp Arontorp is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 231 inhabitants in 2005.... |
231 |
| 9 | Kastlösa Kastlösa Kastlösa is a locality situated in Mörbylånga Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden with 208 inhabitants in 2005.... |
208 |
External links
- Mörbylånga Municipality - Official site
- Southern Öland - Tourism page (in Swedish, English and German)