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Kumlinge

Coordinates: 60°15.5′N 20°46.7′E / 60.2583°N 20.7783°E / 60.2583; 20.7783
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kumlinge
Municipality
Kumlinge Church
Kumlinge Church
Coat of arms of Kumlinge
Location in Finland
Location in Finland
Kumlinge is located in Åland
Kumlinge
Kumlinge
Location in Åland
Coordinates: 60°15.5′N 20°46.7′E / 60.2583°N 20.7783°E / 60.2583; 20.7783
Country Finland
RegionÅland
Area
 • Total
865.04 km2 (333.99 sq mi)
 • Land118.31 km2 (45.68 sq mi)
 • Water746.73 km2 (288.31 sq mi)
Population
 (31 December 2023)
 • Total
320
 • Density2.7/km2 (7/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Websitekumlinge.ax

Kumlinge is a municipality and group of islands in Åland, an autonomous region of Finland. The main island is also named Kumlinge. The name is thought to mean "rocky passage".[citation needed]

As of 31 December 2023, Kumlinge had a population of 320 and a total area of 865 km², of which 118 km² is land and 747 km² is water.[1] The population density is about 2.7 inhabitants per square kilometre. Most residents speak Swedish as their first language, with small minorities speaking Finnish or other languages.[2] Kumlinge Airfield is located on the main island and is used for charter and emergency flights.

History

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The islands of Kumlinge have a long history of settlement. They were first visited by Vikings, and permanent settlement began in the 13th century. By the 16th century, tax records mention about a dozen households, mostly farmers and fishermen. The population declined during the 20th century. Historian Håkan Skogsjö has documented Kumlinge's settlement history in detail.[3]

Geography and climate

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Kumlinge consists of several inhabited islands surrounded by the Archipelago Sea. The largest islands are Kumlinge, Enklinge, Seglinge, and Björkö. The climate is classified as humid continental (Dfb), moderated by the sea.

Climate data for Kumlinge Kirkonkylä (1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 9.0
(48.2)
7.7
(45.9)
13.5
(56.3)
19.5
(67.1)
25.8
(78.4)
27.7
(81.9)
31.2
(88.2)
28.1
(82.6)
25.3
(77.5)
17.1
(62.8)
14.1
(57.4)
9.9
(49.8)
31.2
(88.2)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 5.2
(41.4)
4.8
(40.6)
8.5
(47.3)
14.8
(58.6)
21.1
(70.0)
23.3
(73.9)
26.2
(79.2)
24.9
(76.8)
20.1
(68.2)
14.5
(58.1)
9.8
(49.6)
6.8
(44.2)
26.7
(80.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 0.7
(33.3)
−0.4
(31.3)
2.2
(36.0)
7.0
(44.6)
12.4
(54.3)
17.0
(62.6)
20.4
(68.7)
19.9
(67.8)
15.2
(59.4)
9.4
(48.9)
5.3
(41.5)
2.6
(36.7)
9.3
(48.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) −1.2
(29.8)
−2.5
(27.5)
−0.4
(31.3)
3.6
(38.5)
8.7
(47.7)
13.4
(56.1)
17.2
(63.0)
17.0
(62.6)
12.8
(55.0)
7.7
(45.9)
3.7
(38.7)
1.0
(33.8)
6.8
(44.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −3.1
(26.4)
−4.7
(23.5)
−2.7
(27.1)
1.0
(33.8)
5.7
(42.3)
10.6
(51.1)
14.5
(58.1)
14.6
(58.3)
10.8
(51.4)
5.9
(42.6)
2.1
(35.8)
−0.7
(30.7)
4.5
(40.1)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −11.4
(11.5)
−12.5
(9.5)
−9.1
(15.6)
−2.7
(27.1)
1.9
(35.4)
6.8
(44.2)
11.8
(53.2)
11.2
(52.2)
6.5
(43.7)
0.4
(32.7)
−2.8
(27.0)
−6.4
(20.5)
−15.7
(3.7)
Record low °C (°F) −26.1
(−15.0)
−23.0
(−9.4)
−17.5
(0.5)
−6.3
(20.7)
−0.5
(31.1)
3.2
(37.8)
9.5
(49.1)
7.5
(45.5)
3.9
(39.0)
−3.9
(25.0)
−11.0
(12.2)
−20.0
(−4.0)
−26.1
(−15.0)
Source 1: FMI climatological normals for Finland 1991–2020[4]
Source 2: Record highs and lows 2000–present[5]

Demographics

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Kumlinge's population is concentrated on a few main islands. The table below lists the largest islands and their populations.

Island Population
Kumlinge 318
Enklinge 87
Seglinge 51
Björkö 20
Other 3

Sights

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Kumlinge features several historical and cultural attractions. The village church, dedicated to St. Anne, dates from the 15th century. Hermas museigård and Sjölunds gårdsmuseum display the area's rural heritage. Fälberget has a memorial stone for a Russian battalion defeated in 1808. The historic King's Road postal route passes through the municipality, and the local pharmacy still operates with its original interior.

A milepost on the King's Road in Kumlinge
Panoramic view, Hermas, Kumlinge

References

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  1. ^ "Key figures for municipalities". Statistics Finland. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Population by language and number of foreigners". Statistics Finland. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
  3. ^ Skogsjö, Håkan (1997). Ålands släktregister. D. 2 Familjer och gårdar i Kumlinge (in Swedish). Mariehamn: Ålands folkminnesförbund. pp. 1–656. ISBN 9519522093.
  4. ^ "FMI normals 1991–2020". Finnish Meteorological Institute. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  5. ^ "FMI open data". FMI. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
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