- Stora Karlsö
Stora Karlsö is a small Swedish island in the
Baltic Sea , situated about 6 km west ofGotland . It has an area of about 2.5 km² and is up to 52 meters high. Most of the island consists of alimestone plateau, bordered by steep cliffs along the shore. It is mostly covered withalvar , with many juniper bushes and some small groves of deciduous trees.The island is mostly known for its rich birdlife and flora. It has large colonies of
Common Guillemot (about 7500 breeding pairs) andRazorbill (4500 pairs). In spring, there is an extraordinary number oforchids , mostlyelder-flowered orchid andearly purple orchid . There are also several very rare plants for Sweden such asAdonis vernalis , Lactuca quercina (called 'Karlsösallat' in Swedish), hart's-tongue fern andCorydalis gotlandica (the onlyendemic (ecology) plant onGotland ).There is evidence that Stora Karlsö has been inhabited since the
stone age . During theMiddle Ages there was amarble quarry, which gave the material for many of Gotland's churches. The island is anature reserve , after Yellowstone National Park the oldest established protected nature area in the world. From May to August there are tour boats from the villageKlintehamn .ee also
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Lilla Karlsö External links
* [http://www.storakarlso.se/english/english.htm Welcome to Stora Karlsö]
* [http://www.i.lst.se/livsmiljo/natur/nsomraden/st_karlsö.htm Naturreservatet Stora Karlsö] (in Swedish)
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