Next Stop...The Stora Alvaret

The Alvar: This is a limetone plateau that reminds me of parts of the Everglades in its hidden beauty. Linnaeus visited here, one day in 1741, and really did not seem to appreciate its wealth of plant and animal life. Of course, he should have spent months studying the flora and fauna (if only he had known of its diversity).

Mockelmossen (a preserve on the Stora Alvar on Oland): This area contains the largest stretch of water on Stora Alvar (a 300 square kilometer high limestone heath on the southern portion of Oland). Its size varies according to rainfall, and the level of water is regulated by evaporation. On one summer day, an abundance of sunshine and wind can expose hundreds of square meters of chalky mud and flat rocks.

Annual precipitation is low (450 mm), and availability of fresh water varies between seasons. This area was used for grazing as far back as the early Stone Age. But, it is not very suitable for agriculture due to its limestone base and very thin soil covering. It seems like an alpine type of landscape. In fact, in some ways it reminds me of the Everglades.

Bare rock & Limestone Pavement: The bedrock of the alvar is limestone. This area is a limestone plateau formed during the Ordovician era. Below the limestone there are several layers of Cambrian schists, which form terraces on the slope. The alvar (term used to refer to a type of habitat where bare limestone bedrock is covered by a thin layer of soil) has dolines (circular depressions), sink holes, and shore-ridges. The limestone, and thin soil covering is highly alkaline. Lichens grown on much of the limestone surface. You can also see boulders, strewn hither and yon, which were part of a moraine deposit left by glacial activity from 12,000 years ago.

Hawkweed species?: I am not sure if this is a hawkweed species, but it could very well be. It was abundant in the bare rock & limestone pavement portion of the alvar. Any plants growing here have to be able to adapt to some very harsh conditions as there isn't much soil to speak of.

Breckland Thyme: This fragrant, low-growing shrub was abundant in the dwarf-shrub, lichen and grass heath areas of the alvar.

Spiked Speedwell: There was so much color over the limestone in the dry alvar meadows. We especially enjoyed seeing this vibrant blue spiked speedwell which contrasted nicely with the red of the Breckland thyme.

Wild Blueberries, I presume?: This was the only berry we saw in the meadows of the alvars.

Shrubby Potentilla and Blaklocka: The dry alvar meadows had an abundance of potentilla and blaklocka everywhere we looked. This made for a very pretty scene during the dry season. I would love to spend the months of March through October on this island just to photograph the constantly changing flora.

Dwarf Shrub and Lichen and Grass Heath: This portion of the alvars had lots of shrubby potentilla, which we also saw in the dry alvars and bare rock limestone pavement.

Mockelmossen Wetland: This is the largest wetland on Oland. I saw some fellow birdwatchers who allowed me to look through their scope at a Montagu's harrier (bird of prey) in the distance. Nice!