Sweden: The beautiful country that has more islands than any other | World | News
When tourists look for island destinations, Sweden is not typically at the top of the list.
However, Sweden boasts a stunning 267,570 islands – a number it claims is the most in the world.
Norway has long disputed this claim, insisting that it has more islands with 320,249 – although over 80,000 are tiny rocks that are too small for habitation.
Similar to Norway, a majority of Sweden’s islands are uninhabited. In fact, fewer than 1000 are inhabited.
Most of the islands are located in the Baltic Sea regions of the Bothnian Sea and the Bay of Bothnia.
Despite this, Sweden has moved to try and build up a reputation as an island-hopping tourist destination.
The Scandinavian country far surpasses any country that has become known as island destinations on the sheer number of islands alone.
Surprisingly, Greece and Thailand, both of which offer islands as popular holiday spots, only have 3,045 islands and 1,430 islands, respectively – a figure lower than the number of islands in North Korea.
Around 850,000 British tourists visit Sweden every year, with many coming to see the gorgeous Northern Lights.
Sweden’s far north is one of the top places in the world to experience the illuminating beauty.
The country has become a prime destination for tourists interested in the outdoors and wilderness.
The Swedish archipelagos are characterised by beautiful scenery, untouched nature and islands with few inhabitants.
Thousands flock every year to the Stockholm archipelago which comprises of over 30,000 islands, skerries, and rocks which spread out 80 kilometres east from the city into the Baltic Sea.
The easy boat connections make the islands accessible to visitors, who can enjoy swimming, traditional Swedish cuisine, and fresh archipelago air.
There is also the High Coast of Sweden, which boasts the highest coastline in the world and is a Unesco World Heritage site.
This archipelago features 70 islands and counting.
The area rises about 8 millimeters per year, meaning existing islands grow a little larger and new islands surface.
The capital city of Stockholm has become a popular destination as well, where visitors can explore medieval history and the world-famous Abba museum.
