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Åland
Åland consists of 6,757 islands situated midway between Sweden and Finland. Although the people of Åland speak Swedish, this autonomous territory is part of Finland.
The archipelago is largely made up of coastal rock slopes and heather moorland, and has large areas of pine forests. Only about nine per cent of Åland is arable land.
Åland is the smallest of the three Nordic autonomous territories with a population of 28,000. One third of the population lives in the capital, Mariehamn. The official language is Swedish.
Åland is part of the Republic of Finland but has its own devolved parliament. In devolved policy areas Åland acts as a nation in practice.
Åland is also a demilitarised and neutral zone. Lagtinget, the Åland Parliament, is the highest authority.
Åland is a member of the EU and the currency is the euro, but its relationship to the EU is regulated in a special protocol: to maintain the important tax free sales on the ships which sail between Finland and Sweden, Åland remains outside the VAT area.
Major sources of income on Åland are shipping and ferry services, tourism and the processing of agriculture and fisheries products.
| Total areal | 1,552 km2 |
| Lakes and rivers | 25 km2 |
| Land area | 1,527 km2 |
| Arable land, market gardens and orchards | 140 km2 |
| Forestry | 937 km2 |
| Largest lake | Eastern and Western Kyrksundet 2.6 km2 |
| Highest point | Orrdalsklint 129 m |
| National borders | 0.5 km (border with Sweden at Märket) |
| Average temperature |
January -2.5° C July 15.9° C |
| Average temperature (2006) |
January -2.3° C July 17.6° C |
| Normal precipitation Mariehamn (1971-1990) | 553 mm |
| Precipitation Mariehamn (2006) | 546 mm |
| Population 1 January 2009 | 27,456 inh. |
| Population density 1 January 2009 |
18 inh./km2 |
| Population figure, capital 30 June 2009 |
Mariehamn (municipality) 11,005 inh. |
| National day | 9 June (Autonomy Day 9 June 1922) |
| Form of government | Home rule - within the Republic of Finland |
| Parliament | Lagtinget (30 seats) |
| Membership of the EU | From 1 January 1995 (Not part of the tax union) |
| Membership of NATO | No |
| Head of State (as at September 2009) | President Tarja Halonen |
| Head of government (as at October 2009) | Viveka Eriksson (Liberal) |
| Currency: | Euro |
| Official website | www.aland.ax |
