Valsörarna
Coordinates: 63°25′N 21°05′E / 63.417°N 21.083°E Valsöarna (in Swedish) or Valassaaret (in Finnish) is a small archipelago located in the Kvarken region of the Gulf of Bothnia. The islands are situated in the territorial waters of Finland and are the last you see when going by boat or ferry from Vaasa, Finland to Umeå, Sweden. They are a part of Korsholm municipality and are an important bird sanctuary. They are included in the newly established UNESCO world nature heritage site in the archipelago of Kvarken.
The name Valsöarna is of Swedish origin, meaning "the whale's islands." It is believed that the name was derived from the stone-clad shores and the moraine which resembles a whale. The Finnish name Valassaaret is believed to have been derived from the Swedish word.
The Valsöarna is the shortest route to the Swedish island Holmsö only 23 kilometres (14 miles) away. During winter, the waters of Kvarken are completely iced and it was possible to walk over to the neighbouring country that way. Today, this is not possible thanks to the active ferry traffic and icebreakers that traffic there.
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