Jomfruland - a beautiful and varied island
The bird migration passing Jomfruland can be a spectacular view. But, the island is also fascinating in many other ways! A scenic nature, a sunny weather, exciting geolgical history, and other facilities all attract lots of people every year.
[Nature and vegetation] [Conservation areas] [Breeding birds]
[Animals] [The ocean] [Geology] [Facts about Jomfruland]
Nature and vegetation
Jomfruland is unusually flat for Norwegian conditions, and consists mainly of clay, sand and stone. Boulders predominate in many places, especially on the seaward side. You also find tall oak forest, rather untypical for these northern parts, with a spectacular carpet of Wood Anemone Anemone sylvatica in May. Fields and meadows cover most of the southern part of the island, along with the fir forest. There are also noticeable areas of coastal pastures, dry coastal scrub, a few clean-faced rocks, pine forest, and a small tarn - Tårntjernet.
Nature conservation areas
Several parts of the island are subject to nature conservation:
Øitangen landscape conservation area - beautiful agricultural landscape, and oak and hazel forests. Both natual pastures, coastal meadows, older broad-leaved deciduous forest, dry coastal scrub and sandy beaches cover the area. Lots of red list species of plants, insects and birds occur. A spectacular chorus of singing birds enter the stage in early summer, including the occasional Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus.
Skadden nature reserve - the southern tip of the island, consisting of naked boulders. Formerly hosting lots of breeding sea birds, now only a few remain. The surrounding waters can display lots of waterbirds, mainly in autumn, winter and spring.
Islets on the mainland side - nature reserves with lots of breeding sea birds.
NB! In the period between the 15. of April and the 15. of July, access is denied to the nature reserves designed for breeding sea birds!
Breeding birds
Several species of birds have been found breeding on the island, mainly due to the varied vegetation. Up till now 92 species are noticed breeding, whereof 40-50 are regular. Examples are Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria (the only remaining stable breeding area in Norway), Thrush Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos, Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus and Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio. Single records have been made of Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides, Stock Dove Columba oenas, Shoveler Anas clypeata and Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis. A great number of sea birds breed on surrounding islets and islands.
Animals
Only a few species of larger animals occur regularly on the island: Water Shrew Neomys fodiens, a few species of bats, Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris, Yellow-necked Mouse Apodemus flavicollis, Water Vole Arvicola terrestris, Red Fox Vulpes vulpes, Slow Worm Anguis fragilis and Common Toad Bufo bufo. Harbour seals Phoca vitulina rest regularly on nearby islets. Among unregular visitors are mountain hare Lepus timidus, American Mink Mustela vison, Pine Marten Martes martes, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel) Mustela erminea, Least Weasel Mustela nivalis, Moose Alces alces, Western Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus, Gray Seal Halichoerus grypus, Hooded Seal Cystophora cristata, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena, dolphins and various species of whales.
The ocean
The waters surrounding Jomfruland host lots of species of fish. Several commercial fishermen still prevail, and recreational fishery is also widespread. The favourite catch amongst the latter is Cod, Mackerel and Sea Trout. The odd Sea Bass and the feared Greater Weaver can also bite the hook. The populations of the target species for commercial fisheries seem to be varying greatly. The Cod population has apparently decreased lately. Other local target species are Anglerfish, Mackerel, Lobster and Edible Crab. Lately there has been an alarming decrease in kelp in the whole Skagerak region, possibly due to higher particle consentration because of pollution and runoff. This might prove to have serious negative effekts for local and regional marine ecosystems.
Geology
Jomfruland consists almost completely of quaternary deposits, originating from the latest ice age. At the end of the last ice age, when temperatures were rising and the ice sheet shrunk, shorter cold periods made the glaciers grow. Drift consisting of boulders, gravel and clay was then pressed in front of the glacier. This became deposited where the glacier met the sea, leaving an end moraine. Jomfruland makes up a section of the greatest end moraine in Norway.
After the ice sheet had melted down, Jomfruland was submerged below sea level for a long time. The land uplift finally made the island turn to dry land, but meanwhile currents and wind attacked the deposits. On the seaward side mainly rounded boulders remained, whereas fine grained material like sand and clay was left on the mainland side of the island.
The deposits originate from several different regions in southern Norway, and lots of different types of rock can be spotted. Today, naked rounded boulders can be seen all along the seaward side, but also in the middle of the island at several places. The process of soil build-up is slow, so it will take a long time until the vegetation takes over completely.
At some spots bedrock is visible, consisting of nutrient poor gneiss.
Facts about Jomfruland
Length: 7 km
Maximum width: 1 km
Area: 3,3 square km
Distance to nearest mainland: 4,5 km
Population: ca 80 persons (at 01.01.2004)
Number of active farms: 5
Number of cattle farms: 4
Number of cottages: ca 160
