Karum is a small settlement as well as a nature reserve on the island of Öland, the second largest island in Sweden. The settlement consists of only a handful of houses along a small road, but the nature reserve is a lot larger. It is known for its unique landscape representing the central parts of the island with a long history of agriculture.
A Short History of Karum
Karum has a long history of agricultural activities, something that today stands at focus in the nature reserve. The reserve was established in 2006, but it is believed that the land here have been inhabited for over 2.000 years. The former inhabitants has left many signs of their former presence in the area.
Things to Do and See
The nature reserve with its landscape stands at the center here. You can either hike within the reserve or continue along a longer path that will lead you along other sights of the island. Otherwise, it is also possible to park next to Noah’s Ark and see one of the main sights without breaking a sweat (unless the weather is causing it).
Karum Nature Reserve
Karum Nature Reserve was established in 2006 and covers an area of 315 hectares. The reserve is a way to preserve the endangered plant and animal species of central Öland. In addition to the agricultural landscape the reserve also includes Karum Alvar, a plan of limestone ground with limited covering soil. This makes it an area with very sparse vegetation.
The reserve has five marked hiking trails. These covers a distance of just a few hundred meters up to a few kilometers.
Noaks Ark
Noaks Ark, or Noah’s Ark in English, is a large stone ship within the nature reserve. It is 26 meters long and consists of several large stones. This is just one of many grave markings in the area, being a part of a larger burial field from either the Brone Age or the Iron Age.
How to Get to Karum
- Flights: The nearest airport is Kalmar Öland Airport (KLR), which is 33 kilometers to the southwest.
- Car: Karum is located along countryside roads east of Rälla, between Borgholm and Färjestaden.
- Bus: Buses from Kalmar Länstrafik connects Karum with the surrounding area with a bus stop in Rälla.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 434 kilometers (5 h)
- Gothenburg – 365 kilometers (4 h 20 min)
- Malmö – 303 kilometers (3 h 40 min)
- Linköping – 262 kilometers (3 h 20 min)
- Kiruna – 1668 kilometers (17 h 50 min)
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