Blå Jungfrun, also known as "Blåkulla", in English sometimes rendered literally as The Blue Maiden[2] is a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. It is situated in the Kalmar Strait, between the mainland province of Småland and the island province of Öland. Administratively, the uninhabited island is part of the municipality of Oskarshamn and covers an area of approximately 0.7 km2 (0.27 sq mi) with a mean height above sea level of 86 m (282 ft). Home to black guillemots and a Swedish National Park since 1926, freedom to roam at Blå Jungfrun is limited with visitors prohibited from staying overnight on the island or making fires.
The island consists partly of bare rock with the remainder covered in dense hardwood forest. There are several caves and an ancient stone labyrinth from which it is forbidden to remove stones.
Geologically the island is an ancient inselberg rising from the Sub-Cambrian peneplain. After its formation in the Precambrian, Blå Jungfrun was buried in sandstone, which protected it from any further erosion, until it was finally freed from its sandstone cover in geologically recent times.[3] In 2014 the island became object of archeological interest when a group of researchers discovered a cultural layer after probating the soil. At the time the authorities had given them the permission to only operate in a small area and could not take samples; three years later they were able to recover shards made out of quartz, which date to the Stone Age and had been probably produced by a settlement of hunter-gatherers. The exact age of the site remains uncertain, but it is estimated to have existed around 8500BC, about 10,000 years ago.
The island plays an important role in Swedish folklore, where it is viewed as an evil and magical place. The name Blå Jungfrun was originally used by sailors to avoid provoking the evil spirits who dwelt on the island. According to a widespread belief, related already by Olaus Magnus in 1555, witches meet there each Maundy Thursday. Carl Linnaeus, who visited the island in 1741, was sceptical:
Women and fairy-tales ... generally say that all witches will go here (truly a rather difficult journey) each Maundy Thursday; but those who have visited the place once are not likely to return, and should find out the reason for the fable: If any place in the world looks hideous, this is surely one of the most cruel.
In Sweden and Swedish-speaking parts of Finland, to commemorate the travel of witches to the legendary Blåkulla (synonymous in some traditions with Blå Jungfrun), children dress as witches, old women, and old men on Easter and go door-to-door for treats similar to the trick-or-treating tradition of Halloween. The children sometimes present hand-made cards and other greetings.[4]
Park establishment and tourismedit
Between 1904 and 1925 the red granite of Blå Jungfrun was extracted in three quarries on the south of the island. It was exported chiefly to Germany as decorative stone. The destruction led to efforts to protect the island. A donation from the Swedish entrepreneur Torsten Kreuger made it possible to acquire the island and stop the quarrying. The national park was established on February5, 1926 by the Government of Sweden.[5]
In summer, the island can be visited by tour boats from Oskarshamn or from Byxelkrok.[6] Regular trips began in the 1950s. A park guide on Blå Jungfrun informs the visitors about the national park and its regulations. A visit to the island lasts for around 3,5 hours.
Blå Jungfrun (National Park) 2021-11-06 at the Wayback Machine - Booking and timetable information for visiting Blå Jungfrun.
April 08, 2024
blå, jungfrun, also, known, blåkulla, english, sometimes, rendered, literally, blue, maiden, swedish, island, baltic, situated, kalmar, strait, between, mainland, province, småland, island, province, öland, administratively, uninhabited, island, part, municipa. Bla Jungfrun also known as Blakulla in English sometimes rendered literally as The Blue Maiden 2 is a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea It is situated in the Kalmar Strait between the mainland province of Smaland and the island province of Oland Administratively the uninhabited island is part of the municipality of Oskarshamn and covers an area of approximately 0 7 km2 0 27 sq mi with a mean height above sea level of 86 m 282 ft Home to black guillemots and a Swedish National Park since 1926 freedom to roam at Bla Jungfrun is limited with visitors prohibited from staying overnight on the island or making fires Bla Jungfrun National ParkBla jungfruns nationalparkIUCN category II national park LocationKalmar County SwedenNearest cityOskarshamnCoordinates57 15 1 N 16 47 6 E 57 2517 N 16 7933 E 57 2517 16 7933Area1 98 km2 0 76 sq mi 1 Established1926 extended 1988 1 Visitors9 700 in 1976 Governing bodyNaturvardsverketWebsiteSwedish Environmental Protection AgencyAbiskoAsnenBjornlandetBla JungfrunDalby SoderskogDjuroFulufjalletFarnebofjardenGarphyttanGotska SandonHamraHaparanda ArchipelagoKoster havetMuddusNorra KvillPadjelantaPieljekaiseSarekSkuleskogenStenshuvudStora SjofalletStore MosseSanfjalletSoderasenTivedenTresticklanTyrestaTofsingdalenVadvetjakkaAngsoclass notpageimage National parks of Sweden clickable map The island consists partly of bare rock with the remainder covered in dense hardwood forest There are several caves and an ancient stone labyrinth from which it is forbidden to remove stones Geologically the island is an ancient inselberg rising from the Sub Cambrian peneplain After its formation in the Precambrian Bla Jungfrun was buried in sandstone which protected it from any further erosion until it was finally freed from its sandstone cover in geologically recent times 3 In 2014 the island became object of archeological interest when a group of researchers discovered a cultural layer after probating the soil At the time the authorities had given them the permission to only operate in a small area and could not take samples three years later they were able to recover shards made out of quartz which date to the Stone Age and had been probably produced by a settlement of hunter gatherers The exact age of the site remains uncertain but it is estimated to have existed around 8500BC about 10 000 years ago Contents 1 Legends 2 Modern traditions 3 Park establishment and tourism 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLegends edit nbsp Detail of the stone labyrinth on Bla Jungfrun The island plays an important role in Swedish folklore where it is viewed as an evil and magical place The name Bla Jungfrun was originally used by sailors to avoid provoking the evil spirits who dwelt on the island According to a widespread belief related already by Olaus Magnus in 1555 witches meet there each Maundy Thursday Carl Linnaeus who visited the island in 1741 was sceptical Women and fairy tales generally say that all witches will go here truly a rather difficult journey each Maundy Thursday but those who have visited the place once are not likely to return and should find out the reason for the fable If any place in the world looks hideous this is surely one of the most cruel Modern traditions editMain article Easter witch nbsp A girl dressed up as an Easter witchIn Sweden and Swedish speaking parts of Finland to commemorate the travel of witches to the legendary Blakulla synonymous in some traditions with Bla Jungfrun children dress as witches old women and old men on Easter and go door to door for treats similar to the trick or treating tradition of Halloween The children sometimes present hand made cards and other greetings 4 Park establishment and tourism editBetween 1904 and 1925 the red granite of Bla Jungfrun was extracted in three quarries on the south of the island It was exported chiefly to Germany as decorative stone The destruction led to efforts to protect the island A donation from the Swedish entrepreneur Torsten Kreuger made it possible to acquire the island and stop the quarrying The national park was established on February 5 1926 by the Government of Sweden 5 In summer the island can be visited by tour boats from Oskarshamn or from Byxelkrok 6 Regular trips began in the 1950s A park guide on Bla Jungfrun informs the visitors about the national park and its regulations A visit to the island lasts for around 3 5 hours See also editBlockula Hagalund Brita Zippel Bla Jungfrun Ostra lighthouse Cunning folkReferences edit a b Bla Jungfrun National Park Naturvardsverket Retrieved 2013 05 23 Side Trips in Oland Frommer s Lidmar Bergstrom Karna Inselberg Nationalencyklopedin in Swedish Cydonia Development Retrieved June 22 2015 Svensksprakiga paskhaxor gar ut pa paskaftonen Yle March 13 2010 Lansstyrelsen Kalmar Bla Jungfrun Archived February 7 2014 at the Wayback Machine Solkustturer Boat to Bla Jungfrun Archived from the original on 2021 11 06 Retrieved 2013 06 07 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bla Jungfrun Sweden s National Parks Bla Jungfrun National Park from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Bla Jungfrun National Park Archived 2021 11 06 at the Wayback Machine Booking and timetable information for visiting Bla Jungfrun Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bla Jungfrun amp oldid 1171087739, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
