The Influence of Post-glacial Rebound on the Island Community of Hailuoto on the Northern Baltic Sea

Abstract

In the northern Baltic area, post-glacial rebound has had a considerable effect on the landscapes and the living and working conditions of the coastal populations. An example of the continuing influence of the last glacial period is the island of Hailuoto, located in Finland on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Bothnia. This dynamic environment, with its receding sea level and rising land, has been challenging to live in. The watercourses and fishing waters shallowed and the arable land and meadows lost their fertility when they rose significantly above sea level. Moreover, due to inequalities in land ownership, only some of the inhabitants profited from the most fertile recently emerged land, and the changes thus caused many disputes and competition within the community.