World record holder in land uplift

The High Coast is home to the world’s most dramatic land uplift that has taken place after the inland ice retreated, and this is one of the primary reasons for the area being named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO at the turn of the millennium. The world record has been measured at the top of Skuleberget, where the ancient coastline is presently no less than 286 metres above sea level.

In addition to Skuleberget, other exciting places to visit include Norrfällsviken, Skuleskogen National Park, Trysunda, Sörleviken and Högklinten. You will find till-capped mountains, seemingly endless cobble fields, cut-off coastal inlets and deep glacial striations scarring the smooth rocky shorelines. These natural phenomena are unique on Earth and evidence of the amazing land uplift experienced in the area after each Ice Age. The area is also home to Sweden’s highest island, Mjältön, that juts 236 metres out of the sea, and the Baltic Sea’s deepest point, Ulvödjupet, which measures 293 metres deep.

The High Coast is rebounding at a rate of 8 mm annually, meaning that it is still on the rise.

The nature - the backdrop that is everywhere

The High Coast is a combination of the open sea, towering mountains and deep forests. Nature is the destination’s greatest asset and a source of wellbeing for both local residents and visitors. In 2016, a panel selected by the Swedish Society for the Conservation of Nature put forward a number of locations for the general public to vote on, resulting in the High Coast being named Sweden's Most Beautiful Natural Area.

In the wilderness of Skuleskogen National Park, sights worth exploring include the famous canyon Slåttdalsskrevan and the sweeping views seen from the peak of Slåttdalsberget, not to mention the clear evidence of the land uplift all around you, the endless deep forests and the Naturum Höga Kusten Visitor Centre.

Ulvön, Trysunda and Grisslan are three beautiful islands in the archipelago, all well known and much loved. The Skag and Högbonden lighthouses are other favourite places to visit, as are Rotsidan and the ancient fishing villages at Norrfällsviken and Bönhamn. If you don’t have access to a boat, you can get around the archipelago using passenger ferries, charter boats or cruise liners. Gorgeous beaches are also popular along the coast - Smitingen, Gullvik and Storsand attract many visitors.

Other nature experiences include the region’s rivers and their spectacular valleys, the largest being Ångermanälven. The river is known for its impressive sandbanks that have been formed by the land uplift, its waters rich in salmon and perhaps most of all for the famous bridge Högakustenbron.

One journey, two countries, one world natural heritage

Welcome to the High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience the high and low coast that crosses an international border and connects these areas with the Umeå region. Read more about the project Spotlight High Low Coast here.