The agricultural landscape of southern Öland (Swedish: södra Ölands odlingslandskap) is an area covering more than 56,000 hectares (140,000 acres) on the island of Öland, Sweden. It includes Stora alvaret, a limestone plateau that covers about half of this area. Stora alvaret is a narrow, dagger-shaped region approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) long and about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) wide at its northern end. This limestone plain, which covers roughly a quarter of the island, is the largest of its kind in Europe. Due to the thin soil layer and high soil pH, this area supports a wide variety of plant life, including many rare species.

The agricultural landscape of southern Öland was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 because of its high level of biodiversity, its historical significance, and the ways people have lived and farmed in this unique environment.

Geological origins

The limestone plain was formed by glaciers before the Ice Age. The limestone was created about 500 million years ago from a sea that was once located to the south. Over time, it slowly hardened and moved north. As a result, the limestone found on Stora alvaret contains many fossils of marine animals, including Orthoceras, which can be seen in some rock formations on the island.

Prehistory

The most well-known Palaeolithic settlement called Alby is located on the east coast of the island. Excavations there have uncovered traces of wooden huts near a small prehistoric lake. Items found include signs of bears, Marta, seals, and focènids. Tools used for hunting and gathering, such as spears, harpoons made from antlers and flint, were also discovered. Later, during the Bronze Age and early Iron Age, the limited tree species in Stora alvaret and its surrounding areas faced great stress. Jannson suggests that the loss of trees may have caused a sudden decline in human presence around 500 BC, as recorded at Eketorp and other locations. It is thought that the growing human population outgrew the ability of the area to support it. Later, between the years 800 and 1000, several Viking settlements appeared in the surrounding regions.