Svenska Högarna

The island group Svenska Högarna has been a nature reserve since 1976. In 2020 the County Administrative Board decided to expand the protected area from just under 3,000 hectares to 61,000 hectares. The new marine reserve stretches three Swedish miles northeast of the island group, past the Svenska Björn nature reserve. The underwater environment around Svenska Högarna is varied with a rich marine animal life. Here there are extensive blue mussel reefs, deep oxygenated soft bottoms and healthy species-rich wrack and algae belts. Together they form healthy ecosystems where the blue mussels filter the seawater and provide food for both fish and seabirds. The land areas are characterised by barren outer-archipelago nature with bare, wave-washed rocks, giant's kettles, rock pools and ice striations. Here are some of the most important seabird colonies in Stockholm County, with species such as common guillemot, black guillemot, razorbill, eider and velvet scoter - species that have disappeared in several other parts of the archipelago. The area is also one of the county's foremost migration sites for migratory birds. In the local area there is the Baltic Sea's largest population of grey seal. Storön has a species-rich flora including sea sandwort and golden bramble. Svenska Högarna was formerly a fishing harbour and has long been a lighthouse site. On Storön there are several paths around the Outer Harbour, the Inner Harbour, the lighthouse and the island's facilities. Visitors are asked to show consideration to the residents at Fyrbyn. Sights include the lighthouse with an exhibition, a Troy town, a stone labyrinth and a cemetery. The archipelago has magnificent nature with many attractive water areas. Only limited harbour possibilities exist. On the eastern part of Storön at the Outer Harbour there is a jetty and rubbish hut as well as a dry privy for visitors. Between the island of Skrubban and the Outer Harbour there are also mooring buoys owned and managed by the Swedish Cruising Club; the public may moor at the buoys for a fee. Overnight cabins are available at the inner harbour. They are booked through the warden. To protect Svenska Högarna nature reserve there are rules to follow, see Länsstyrelsen For boat transport to Svenska Högarna contact a water taxi: Gula båten 0729-42 78 36 or hej@gulabaten.se. Gräddö Sjöliv 0705436488 or hej@graddosjoliv.se. Roslagsevent 072-2034489 or info@roslagsevent.se