Gotska Sandön National Park

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Abisko Åsnen Björnlandet Blå Jungfrun Dalby Söderskog Djurö Fulufjället Färnebofjärden Garphyttan Gotska Sandön Hamra Haparanda Archipelago Koster- havet Muddus Norra Kvill Padjelanta Pieljekaise Sarek Skuleskogen Stenshuvud Stora Sjöfallet Store Mosse Sånfjället Söderåsen Tiveden Tresticklan Tyresta Töfsingdalen Vadvetjåkka Ängsö National parks of Sweden (clickable map) Sandön is situated 38 km (24 mi) north of Fårö in the Baltic Sea. Legally a part of Gotland province, it is approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) long and 6 km (3.7 mi) wide, with a total area of approximately 36 km 2 (14 sq mi). The island is part of Fårö socken (not to be confused with parish ). It comprises the same area as the administrative Fårö District, established on 1 January 2016.

On the northwest tip of the island is a church, Gotska Sandön Chapel. As of 2019 [update], Gotska Sandön Chapel along with Fårö Church belong to Fårö parish in Norra Gotlands pastorat.

During the summer, there are regular boat tours from Fårö Island and Nynäshamn on the mainland.

The island consists mostly of sand and is dominated by beaches, dunes and especially pine forests. Aside from a colony of grey seals on the north side of the island, the higher fauna is not very rich. Terrestrial or aerial mammals include mountain hares and bats. However, the island is home to many rare insects and plants, including the Kashubian vetch and several species of orchid.

Despite its isolation from sizeable landmasses, Gotska Sandön's oceanic climate is warm for its latitude. The Scandinavian Peninsula to the west, Gotland to the south and the Baltic landmass to the east contribute to warmer summers and frequent winter frost, giving the island a far broader temperature range than, for example, the similarly isolated Fair Isle, which lies one degree further north some distance off the coast of Scotland. In spite of this range, summer highs are cool by the standards of southern Sweden, and winter nights are among the mildest in the country.

Gotska Sandön has significant seasonal lag : despite dwindling daylight hours, August is much warmer than June, while March days are both longer and colder than those in December.