Although the fairway is located in the inner archipelago, travelling along it shortens the boat journey considerably by avoiding having to navigate around islands through the high seas. It also provides shelter against bad weather and in poor seafaring conditions. The fairway is about six kilometres long and is only 50 metres wide at its narrowest point.
Extract from the 1880 nautical chart showing the Barösund passage.
Traffic has been guided on the fairway well before official pilotage
The naturally scenic beaches of the fairway have been inhabited since at least the 16th century. The first permanent settlers were fishermen and peasants. The narrow passage was well known to the area’s inhabitants who assisted ships passing through well before official pilotage began in the 1850s.
Drawing of the Barösund fairway in the 1800’s from the Russian landscape painter Aleksei Bogoljubov. Taken from the work Al'bom" morskih"' vidovv'" sěvernago berega Finskago zaliva (Eng. “Album of the Gulf of Finland”)
There have been several pilot stations along the route, one of which, a log hut built in 1882, has retained its original appearance to this day. Similarly, situated on a rocky peninsula the pilot hut at the eastern end of the fairway has long served as a landmark for those entering the fairway.
Along the route, the water level and the year markings have been carved into the rock shore by the pilots. In addition to piloting, sailing navigation through the narrow passage was facilitated by the use of iron rings mounted into the rocky shore along the fairway. Ships were towed through the fairway with ropes using rings cut into the bare rock. These rings are still visible today.
Imperial Navy in front of the pilot station 4.7.1885.
The diverse history of the fairway is evident in the surroundings
The Barösund passage was also an important passage during wartime. During the Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790), defence equipment was built along the fairway, the remains of which can still be found. In the late 19th century, people became aware of the beautiful views of the fairway and villas, boarding houses, and summer cottages were built on the beaches. When pilotage ceased in the late 1950s, the old pilot station was also put into use as a summer cottage.
With its beautiful natural and cultural scenery, the narrow strait is a wonderful attraction particularly in summer, when boat traffic on the fairway is busy. The shores of the fairway are rocky and forested in places with evergreens and some groves of broad-leafed trees, backed by meadows. The passage can be crossed by ferry to Orslandet Island. In the centre of the fairway is a service harbour with a pier, buoy mooring points and a refuelling point.
In the waters of the passage are many shipwrecked ships, as well as numerous ancient archaeological sites on the shores, which you can learn more about in the cultural environment service window.
Barösund fairway in spring 2018.
Why and how is this site protected?
The Finnish Heritage Agency has defined the entire fairway area as a nationally constructed cultural environment due to its historical significance, long history of use, and its preserved cultural landscape.
Read more about the fairway from the Heritage Agency's pages!
Visit
The fairway shore is accessible by car and a car ferry regularly crosses the strait. There is also a guest harbour.
The car ferry timetable can be found here.
Finnish Heritage Agency’s mapservice
N: 6652928, E: 325765 (ETRS-TM35FIN)