Örskar

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Örskar
Örskär lighthouse
Örskär lighthouse
Waters Baltic Sea
Geographical location 60 ° 32 '  N , 18 ° 22'  E Coordinates: 60 ° 32 '  N , 18 ° 22'  E
Örskar (Uppsala)
Örskar
surface 400 hectaresdep1

Örskär is an island that belongs to Gräsö socken in Östhammar municipality in Skärgård Upplands . It is about 400 hectares . About 50 percent of the total area of ​​Örskär is a nature reserve . The island is famous for its flowers and no fewer than 18 species of orchids . Örskär is one of the best places in Sweden where you can watch birds very well . Around 260 species stop here over the course of a year. It is also one of the few places in Sweden where you have the opportunity to see and hear the unusual little water frog ( Pelophylax lessonae ). In addition, the island has a very good population of elk and red deer .

There has been a lighthouse on Örskär since the 17th century . In addition to the Landsort lighthouse, it is one of the oldest in Sweden. The first lighthouse was built in 1687. The new tower dates from 1740 and was built according to the designs of Carl Hårleman . In 1769 the world's first flashing signaling device was installed there. This was already very automated for its time and had a clockwork and rotating lenses . From the 1950s the lighthouse was electrified . It was fully automated in 1978. It has been operated by the Swedish Maritime Authority since then.

There is a hostel next to the lighthouse . The island can be reached with a passenger boat from Gräsö or with your own boat .

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