Sottunga

Sottunga is an island municipality o the Åland Islands, an autonomous territory o Finland. The municipality is the smawest when it comes tae population in Åland an in Finland, wi a population o anerlie 110 (31 Januar 2011) an covers an aurie o 342.46 square kilometres (132.22 sq mi) o which 314.41 km2 (121.39 sq mi) is watter. The population density is 3.92 indwallers per square kilometre (10.2 /sq mi). The municipality is unilingually Swadish, wi 88.7% o the indwallers speakin Swadish as thair native leid. Sottunga comprises mony islands, o which anerlie three, Husö, Finnö an Storsottunga, are inhabitit. Storsottunga is uisually cried Sottunga. Thare are five veelages in the municipality: Finnö, Husö, Hästö, Mosshaga an Sottunga. The heichest pynt o Sottunga is Kasberget (25 m).

Sottunga can be reached bi ferry frae Långnäs in Lumparland an Galtby in Korpo an mony ferries pass the island athoot makkin a stap.

History
Lik the rest o Eastren Åland, Sottunga got its first permanent indwallers sometime in the 11t century, awtho thare is evidence that the island haes haed indwallers lang afore that. The name Sottunga itsel is thocht tae predate the 11t century. In the 17t century thare wur some ten hoosehaulds on the island an aboot 70 indwallers.

Sottunga haes suffered durin mony wars, first durin the Great Northern War in 1714–22 when aw o Åland fled tae Swaden an again durin the Finnish War o 1808-09 when aw the biggins on the island wur set on fire in order tae prevent them frae fawin intae enemy haunds. In 1800, afore the Finnish War, the island haed been visitit bi Keeng Gustaf Adolf. Later durin the Winter War o 1939–40 the island wis bombed bi the Soviet Union. The bombs wur responsible for the sinkin o the cargo ship s/s Notung in 1940 juist northeast o Sottunga.

The population o Sottunga reached its peak in the 1920s wi aboot 400 indwallers frae which it haes gradually declined durin the 20t century.

Sichts
The kirk o Sottunga wis oreeginally biggit in 1661. The modren kirk on the steid wis biggit in 1728 efter a fire haed destroyed the oreeginal ane. It is the smawest widden kirk in Finland. Its clock touer wis biggit in 1770 an the biggin wis renovatit in 1802. The pentin at the altar wis made bi P. Berggren in Stockholm, Swaden, in 1845.

Afore the kirk wis biggit Sottunga haed a chapel which wis biggit in 1544 an which wis approximately ane kilometer away frae the contemporary kirk.

On the island o Södö thare are auld mines datin back tae the 19t century. Anerlie 1,700 tons o iron ore wur iver mined atween the years 1839 an 1847 when the mines wur operatin. The day the island is uninhabitit but open tae visitors.

Economy
Sottunga daes no hae mony indwallers an sae the island haes anerlie ane bank, ane post office, ane primary schuil an ane healcare center. Anerlie 1.54 km2 (0.59 sq mi) is cultivatit an commercial fishin is no practiced onymair. The industry o the island is dominatit bi dairy products an the cultivation o sugar beet.

References

Freemit airtins

 Offeecial wabsteid o Sottunga 
 Map o Sottunga municipality 

Category:Municipalities o Åland
Category:Populatit places established in 1959