| Archipelago National Park (Skärgårdshavets nationalpark, Saaristomeren kansallispuisto) |
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| Protected area | |
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Gullkrona, a village in Nagu, within the national park
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| Country | Finland |
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| Region | Finland Proper |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 500 km2 (193 sq mi) |
| Established | 1983 |
| Management | Metsähallitus |
| Visitation | 53,500 (2009[1]) |
| IUCN category | II - National Park |
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Location in Finland
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| Website: http://www.outdoors.fi/archipelagonp | |
Archipelago National Park (Swedish: Skärgårdshavets nationalpark, Finnish: Saaristomeren kansallispuisto) is a national park in Finland Proper. It was established in 1983 and covers 500 square kilometres (193 sq mi) of land areas. It is part of the UNESCO biosphere reserves and received a PAN Parks certificate in 2007.
The park consists of all state owned waters and lands in a large co-operation area, excluding areas of defence forces. The co-operation area covers most of the southern part of the Archipelago Sea, that is the parts of the former municipalities of Korpo, Nagu and Dragsfjärd south of their main islands. The park includes more than 2 000 islands and islets. The area is inhabited and part of the mission of the park is to encourage traditional ways of living and to preserve the culture of the area.
There are information centers in Kasnäs in Kimitoön and in Korpoström in Väståboland, reachable by coach or car. There are ferry connections to the larger, inhabited, islands but most of the park can be reached only by boat.
Mostly normal freedom to roam applies in the park, but the nature is fragile and special care has to be taken, especially regarding nesting birds. There are areas with special restrictions. Camping is in practice restricted to assigned areas.