Once upon a time Sandskär rose above the sea like a reef. Now it is an island with barren moors, thickly wooded forests, blossoming beach meadows and vast beaches and dunes. For centuries people have come here in order to fish Baltic herring and to hunt seals. The island is so unique that it has now become a national park. Enjoy it with all your senses. When you travel here on the Bosmina, the sense of taste will also be satisfied. How about salmon, whitefish roe (“orange caviar”) and sea buckthorn?

At the quay in the harbour of Haparanda, Staffan Svanberg, skipper of the boat M/S Bosmina II, is waiting with hot coffee and a whitefish roe sandwich. Staffan is the overseer of the national park . He has a lot to tell about life in the archipelago, the extraordinary landscapes, the local flora and fauna and exciting human lives from the past. During the one-hour boat trip to Sandskär we pass islands formed by the inland ice and the waves of the sea. At some of the shoals gray seals have their quarters. We usually see their round heads curiously looking up above the water line.

Lunch at Sandskär- salmon smoked over a juniper twig fire, potatoes, a thickened fruit sauce made out of sea buckthorn served with old-fashioned creamy milk and a cup of coffee. After the meal we go sightseeing around the island with Staffan as our competent guide. Sandskär entices to stroll along the foot-bridge paths with their valerian perfume, beach meadows and the redshanks mating call. There are many stories about life in the old days. We walk around the old fishing village, discovering traces from the old fishing days and visiting the ancient chapel. In the past the Baltic herring from Sandskär was an important asset to the people on the mainland. After a hike over moors and sand dunes as well as through thickly wooded forests and knotty pinewoods we arrive at the boat awaiting us at the northern point of Sandskär. Maybe some have skipped the hike and are already on the boat. On the journey back we enjoy coffee and homebaked chocolate cake. There may still be time for a swim before the boat leaves