Aland

Åland Islands

The Åland Islands are a group of more than 6000 islands in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland, east of Stockholm. The total area is about 1500 km2 and there are living approximately 25,000 inhabitants. Their main language is Swedish. Although the islands have a certain form of autonomy, they still form a province in Finland.

Finnish sovereignty over the islands

For centuries the Åland Islands belonged to the crown of Sweden, as was the case with Finland as a whole. Finland - and the Åland islands - came in the possession of Russia in 1809. During the Chrimean War (1853 - 1856) the islands of Åland were of great strategically importance for Russia, but after this the islands were demilitarized. To quiet a strong movement on the islands for Sweden the islands got a form of autonomy, but the Finnish sovereignty over the islands was confirmed in 1921 by a decision of the League of Nations.

Postage stamps

In 1951 the autonomy of the islands was renounced by the Finnish parliament, but the inhabitants got special rights, including their own flag. Since 1984 the Islands have their own postage stamps.