Utklippan

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / surface missing template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / height missing

Utklippan is Sweden's most south-eastern island group consists of the islands Norraskär and Södraskär. It is located in the Baltic Sea about 25 kilometers south of Karlskrona in the municipality of Karlskrona, Blekinge Lan. The group of islands and the surrounding sea are since 1988 a nature reserve. On Södraskär is a lighthouse.

Lighthouse

The lighthouse on Södraskär was built in 1840 as a combination of beacon and fortress. The present lighthouse, a so-called Heidenstam Lighthouse ( named after the lighthouse designer Gustav von Heidenstam ), was built in 1870 according to the plans of Albert Theodor Gellerstedt. The tower has a height of 30.9 meters. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1972. The main lighthouse was closed in 2008 by the Swedish Maritime Administration, but there is still a leading light to mark the local sea route.

Following the automation of the lighthouse in 1972, the homes of the former Lighthouse keepers were free. These are now used by Ornithological Club Karlskrona.

Nature reserve

Utklippan is used by many migratory birds as a stopover. Most striking is the large gulls breeding colony.

The island group is located since 1964 a large bird and ringing. By the year 2004 319.504 birds were ringed on Utklippan from 194 species.

Endangered Animals on Utklippan

On Utklippan there are several different species of amphibians. Among other things, the natterjack toad and the endangered Green Toad. In 1994, began a large-scale bailout of the green toad. After it had been found in previous years that were predominantly female animals on the island, we sat now dozens of male animals and several hundred pups out there. Many of the animals on the island group can not survive long periods of time in salt water.

Geology

The bedrock of Utklippan consists of granite. During the last Ice Age, the ice left its mark. To be seen in the rock, among other boulders and abrasions.

Water and gravel left behind due to washouts some deep holes on Södraskär. On the other hand, Noraskär there is much loose rock that is piled up on the beach to small walls.