The Åland Islands or Åland (pronounced "Oh-lahnd") are a group of small islands officially belonging to Finland in the Baltic Sea, consisting a surrounding archipelago. It is autonomous, demilitarised and is the only monolingually Swedish-speaking region in Finland. Åland's original name was in the Proto-Norse language - Ahvaland which means "Land of Water". In Swedish, this first developed into Áland and eventually into Åland, literally "river land"—even though rivers are not a prominent feature of Åland's geography. The Finnish and Estonian names of the island, Ahvenanmaa and Ahvenamaa ("perch land"), are seen to preserve another form of the old name.
Keeping Time: Why a Timepiece is Still the Best Souvenir of Switzerland
For more than 400 years, Switzerland has been the world’s watchmaking and tim... read more
Video: This Distillery Uses Alaska Glacier Water
And local fireweed and spruce tips for truly local spirits and craft cocktail... read more
7 Reasons to Cruise Canada and New England on Seabourn
One of the greatest natural spectacles in the world is the unmatched explosio... read more
When is the Jamaican Rum You're Drinking Not Jamaican?
It’s only champagne if it’s from Champagne. Ham from Parma is equally exclusi... read more
Royal Caribbean Expands Alaska Cruisetours in 2027
Royal Caribbean has revealed its lineup of summer 2027 getaways for travelers... read more
Juno Beach Centre
The Juno Beach Centre is Canada’s Second World War museum and cultural centre... read more