Utö: norra delen

If you are interested in geology, you should visit northern Utö. Here, the water-filled mine holes gape like black eyes at the visitor. In the warp piles of the mines you can find rare minerals and it was here that the element lithium was first discovered. Near the mines is an old 18th century mill on a high mountain with an outstanding view of the archipelago. Utö's bedrock has a strong impact on the vegetation, and where there are limestone streams, the species diversity is great. In the forests, you can find nettle root, soapwort and green clover, and in the rocky outcrops, you can find the rare stonewort. Some of Utö's finest limestone rocks are located at Kroka on the northernmost tip of the island. Here, experts have found several rare species of stalked mushrooms. Parts of Utö are a nature reserve managed by the Archipelago Foundation.