Harstena

Harstena (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈhâʂːˌteːna])[1] is an island located in the northern part of the Gryt archipelago in Valdemarsvik municipality, Sweden. The island is principally known for the seal hunting that was once carried out there, but also as one of the stations for the shipping forecast broadcast by Sveriges Radio. The island is a popular tourist attraction in summer, when daily boat tours depart from Fyrudden and Tyrislöt.

Scenery from Harstena
Map of Harstena.

The island Hargstenö was mentioned in Gustav Vasa's jordebok from 1543 but burial sites indicate that it was inhabited already in the Iron Age. The number of residents reached a maximum in the 19th century when 70–80 people made their living on the island. Taxation records from that time show that fishing and seal hunting were the main source of income. The seal catch was the main source of income until the 1940s when the price of seal fur dropped. Seals became extinct during the 1960s and 1970s but reestablished themselves during the 1990s. A seal colony numbering around 60 animals has established itself in a special protected area.

The seal blubber boilers were built on the island in 1911, renovated 1999 and were declared protected 2011. They are today used as a museum[2]

The island is also known for its fresh water tarn with its red water lilies. The number of residents diminished during the 20th century and today Harstena has only a few year-round residents. The island was reachable by telephone in 1930 and electrified 1945.

Climate

Harstena has an oceanic climate that is similar to most of southern Sweden.

Climate data for Harstena, averages 2002–2018; extremes since 1942
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.7
(53.1)		 15.6
(60.1)		 18.5
(65.3)		 21.6
(70.9)		 27.4
(81.3)		 32.1
(89.8)		 31.3
(88.3)		 33.5
(92.3)		 26.8
(80.2)		 22.6
(72.7)		 15.1
(59.2)		 12.9
(55.2)		 33.5
(92.3)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 7.4
(45.3)		 7.3
(45.1)		 13.0
(55.4)		 16.4
(61.5)		 21.6
(70.9)		 25.6
(78.1)		 27.4
(81.3)		 26.3
(79.3)		 21.8
(71.2)		 16.1
(61.0)		 11.6
(52.9)		 8.3
(46.9)		 28.0
(82.4)
Average high °C (°F) 1.6
(34.9)		 1.7
(35.1)		 4.9
(40.8)		 9.4
(48.9)		 14.5
(58.1)		 19.4
(66.9)		 22.4
(72.3)		 21.5
(70.7)		 17.1
(62.8)		 10.7
(51.3)		 6.3
(43.3)		 3.5
(38.3)		 11.1
(51.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.4
(31.3)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 2.1
(35.8)		 6.1
(43.0)		 10.9
(51.6)		 15.7
(60.3)		 18.9
(66.0)		 18.2
(64.8)		 14.2
(57.6)		 8.6
(47.5)		 4.6
(40.3)		 1.7
(35.1)		 8.4
(47.1)
Average low °C (°F) −2.3
(27.9)		 −2.5
(27.5)		 −0.8
(30.6)		 2.7
(36.9)		 7.3
(45.1)		 11.9
(53.4)		 15.3
(59.5)		 14.9
(58.8)		 11.3
(52.3)		 6.5
(43.7)		 2.9
(37.2)		 −0.2
(31.6)		 5.6
(42.0)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −10.3
(13.5)		 −9.6
(14.7)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 3.2
(37.8)		 7.9
(46.2)		 11.8
(53.2)		 10.9
(51.6)		 6.3
(43.3)		 1.2
(34.2)		 −3.2
(26.2)		 −7.0
(19.4)		 −12.6
(9.3)
Record low °C (°F) −24.0
(−11.2)		 −26.1
(−15.0)		 −19.2
(−2.6)		 −10.0
(14.0)		 −1.7
(28.9)		 1.6
(34.9)		 6.2
(43.2)		 7.1
(44.8)		 1.0
(33.8)		 −4.6
(23.7)		 −12.1
(10.2)		 −16.7
(1.9)		 −26.1
(−15.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 31.3
(1.23)		 26.6
(1.05)		 22.3
(0.88)		 24.8
(0.98)		 38.4
(1.51)		 51.0
(2.01)		 57.0
(2.24)		 62.4
(2.46)		 36.4
(1.43)		 52.3
(2.06)		 47.9
(1.89)		 39.3
(1.55)		 489.7
(19.29)
Source 1: SMHI Open Data[3]
Source 2: SMHI average data 2002–2018[4]

References
  1. Jöran Sahlgren; Gösta Bergman (1979). Svenska ortnamn med uttalsuppgifter (in Swedish). p. 10.
  2. "Trankokeriet på Harstena". Svenska industriminnesföreningen. Retrieved 2014-10-10.
  3. "Harstena Open Data" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  4. "Annual and Monthly Statistics" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. 9 May 2019.
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