Stora Alvaret
Stora alvaret is a 37 kilometer long and 15 kilometer wide area of alvar land in the southern parts of Öland.
The area makes up a quarter of the entire island's area. Alvar is characterized by the fact that it mainly consists of treeless heathland where the bedrock, consisting of Ordovician limestone, is often exposed or is covered only with a thin layer of soil. Smaller areas of alvar land are found in other parts of Öland, but also on Gotland and some places in Västergötland, including on Kinnekulle. The area has a special flora with a variety of species that are unique to the area, and is historically used as pasture. Grazing is necessary to prevent overgrowth.
It is among insects and other invertebrates that one finds the unique and most distinctive fauna for the Great Alvar.
Large, continuous and diverse alvar landscape that has never been cultivated or fertilized. Mosaic of habitat types on flat limestone bedrock with or without thin soils. This is unique and is nowhere in the world found in this order of magnitude.
ACCESSIBILITY
There are several accessible routes out onto the Great Alvar. From Vickleby Church, an accessible road leads directly out into the open alvar landscape. You can also park at Station Linné and follow the marked trail out onto the alvar.
At Möckelmossen, along Resmo–Stenåsavägen, there is a car park, information point and toilet. About 800 metres north of the information point there is a visitor platform with a view of Möckelmossen. The trail leading up to the platform is wheelchair accessible.
It is among insects and other invertebrates that one finds the unique and most distinctive fauna for the Great Alvar.
Large, continuous and diverse alvar landscape that has never been cultivated or fertilized. Mosaic of habitat types on flat limestone bedrock with or without thin soils. This is unique and is nowhere in the world found in this order of magnitude.
ACCESSIBILITY
There are several accessible routes out onto the Great Alvar. From Vickleby Church, an accessible road leads directly out into the open alvar landscape. You can also park at Station Linné and follow the marked trail out onto the alvar.
At Möckelmossen, along Resmo–Stenåsavägen, there is a car park, information point and toilet. About 800 metres north of the information point there is a visitor platform with a view of Möckelmossen. The trail leading up to the platform is wheelchair accessible.