Gråen is a small artificial Swedish island in Øresund, originally constructed during the 18th century both in order to protect Landskrona harbour and for military reasons related to the nearby Landskrona Citadel.[2] A smaller allotments area is located on the island, and access is only by boat.[3] Most of its 50 acres is a bird sanctuary and there are strong trespassing rules between 15 March and 1 August.[4] Only a very few authorised ornithologists are allowed inside the sanctuary during the breeding season (the allotment area is excluded).

Gråen
Gråen, an artificial island, protects Landskrona's natural deep water harbour. Deep water in dark blue colour.[1]
Gråen is located in Scania
Gråen
Gråen
Location in Scania
Gråen is located in Sweden
Gråen
Gråen
Location in Sweden
Gråen is located in Europe
Gråen
Gråen
Location in Europe
Geography
LocationØresund
Coordinates55°51′50″N 12°49′07″E / 55.86389°N 12.81861°E / 55.86389; 12.81861
A map of Landskrona, its harbour, the Citadel and the oldest part of Gråen. From around 1850

Fauna

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The breeding birds includes various gulls, mute swans and other water-related birds. Since the early 1980s a cormorant colony (Phalacrocorax carbo) has existed.[5] Unlike some similar colonies at other places in Sweden, these birds have never been disliked by Landskrona's population.[6]

Gipsön

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The island's southern part, Gipsön or "The Plaster Island", is an enlargement from the late 1970s, created by the chemical industry Supra AB. The shallow water was surrounded by stones and then filled with plaster, a residue from a process of making fertilizers. The factory was, in its beginning in 1882, located on the island[7] but later moved to the land side of the harbour. Until this part of Gråen was created, all the plaster was dumped in the sea.[8][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Kartor, vägbeskrivningar, flygfoton, sjökort & mycket mer på eniro.se".
  2. ^ "Ön Gråen". Boka.landskrona.se. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Gråens Koloniförening - Vår ö Gråen". Graen.se. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Index". Lansstyrelsen.se. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Nu blir livet bättre på fågelreservatet Gråen". Skd.se. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  6. ^ nothing like these [1], [2], [3], [4], has happened here. Ever !
  7. ^ a b "Gamla Vattentornet". Landskronahistoria.se. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Gråen – svår att försvara sig emot | Lyckligt Lottad".