Development of the surface communications in Åland, SW Finland

Abstract

Åland, with its very pronounced archipelago environment, and situated between the core regions of Sweden and Finland has developed unusually interesting geographical patterns in its surface communications. The se­quential superimposition of several different route patterns can be dis­cerned. These were induced by the traffic needs on different hierarchical levels in relation to both external and internal forces. The first regular routes were a result of the demand on cross‑country communications between Sweden and Finland. The next phase was the growth of local road systems, and the most recent development has been the centraliza­tion of the communication system on Mariehamn, the administrative centre of Åland. The effectiveness of the communications have been simultaneously increased, especially by the creation of an all‑weather road system far into the archipelago. It has therefore been possible to integrate all parts of Aland into a commercial economy. Only the extremely dispersed island settlements have been left outside this system and are by now completely abandoned.