Everything about Kullaberg totally explained
Kullaberg is a
nature reserve situated on a
peninsula of land protruding into the
Kattegat in
Höganäs Municipality near the town of
Mölle in southwest
Sweden. The site in the province of
Skåne is an area of considerable
biodiversity supporting a number of
rare species and has been designated as an
Important Bird Area (IBA) in Sweden as well as a
Special Protection Area (SPA). The
terrain is dominated by steep
cliffs rising from the
sea and rocky
outcrops on the ridge above, the highest elevation being Mount Hakull at 188 meters. Ridgetop
vegetation includes a mixed
hardwood broadleaf forest consisting of
birch,
beech,
oak and
pine trees with an understory of
hawthorn,
juniper, wild
honeysuckle and
blackthorn. Among the notable
rare plants are
Spring vetchling,
Lathyrus sphaericus.
Inhabitated as early as the
Stone Age, there are extant
stone circles,
grave mounds, ancient
village remains and other
archeological features. Kullaberg is administered by the
Höganäs Forestry Board and the
Gyllenstierna Krapperup Foundation.
Kullen lighthouse, designed by architect
Magnus Dahlander in 1898, is considered the brightest in Sweden, situated at the westernmost point of the reserve, guiding
ships through this busy part of the
Kattegat. Within this 75 square kilometre (18,500 acre) reserve are extensive
hiking paths that criss-cross the
ridge and provide access to dozens of
beach coves nestled at the bottom of the cliff formations.
History
Stone Age inhabitants were in southern Sweden at least as early as 7000 BC, from
archaeological evidence on the
mainland as well as the large island of
Öland. At Kullaberg clear evidence of habitation is found from tool findings,
gravefields and stone circles. Later
Iron Age peoples are also known to have inhabited the Kullaberg.
The first written information about Kullaberg derives from about the year 1740 AD when
Swedish naturalist Carl von Linne visited the area and recorded
biological notes.
In the early 1700s a private group almost acquired the Kullaberg with the intention of
quarrying the rich stone resource. Foresighted early
environmentalists intervened for a period of
trustee years until a formal trust was created to own and manage the preserve. AB Kullabergs Natur was established in 1913 and acquired a portion of the lands on the peninsula. In 1968, a portion of the site was owned by the Krapperup Estate (owners of nearby
Krapperup Castle), and, at that time, the tenant in tail, Gustaf Gyllenstierna, consigned the balance of Kullaberg to the Gyllenstierna Krapperup Foundation.
Habitats and vegetation
The principal
habitats include
broadleaf deciduous forest and
coniferous forest, specialized cliff habitat and
marine habitat including
intertidal zone. In the clear sea waters can be found
crustaceans,
sea urchins,
mussels,
snails and a variety of ocean fishes. The
rocky shoreline creates a natural environment for numerous
tidepools that form at the cliff bases. In addition, freshwater
marshes cover approximately five percent of the site.
Principal broadleaf trees include
elm,
ash,
birch,
beech and
oak. The
habitats are particularly varied since each direction of cliff face into the ocean (about 270 degrees in all) generates a slightly different
microclimate exposure and hence a unique habitat. Not surprisingly then there are a number of
rare plants present including keeled
garlic and wild
marjoram; the rare plant,
grass pea or varvial (
Lathyrus sphaericus) occurs only within Sweden at Kullaberg and one other location.
Birdlife
It is the rich
avafauna that have primarily been responsible for the designations of
IBA and
SPA. Part of this IBA is a recognized international IBA. A variety of
pelagic birds as well as terrestrial birds find their homes at Kullaberg. The preserve is a significant wintering and passage area for a number of
seabirds and
seaduck, including
Common Eider (
Somateria mollissima),
Common Scoter (
Melanita nigra),
Velvet Scoter (
Melanita fusca),
Common Goldeneye (
Bucephala clangula), and
Black Guillemot (
Cepphus grylle).
The
rare species Red Kite (
Milvus milvus) finds good habitat for one or two breeding pairs (as of 1996) in this specialized coastal
habitat of Kullaberg and causes the site to meet IBA criteria B3 and C6. The
Common Guillemot, (
Uria aalge), is found here, with the 1996 census recording 50 to 500 pairs, but not as a breeding location; although the habitat is considered marginal for this bird, criteria B1ii and C3 are nevertheless met. Further in the 1996 census 20 to 30 pairs of
Red-backed Shrikes were noted at Kullaberg; while this
shrike breeds here, with habitat value rated as medium, item C6 is met of the listing criteria.
Practical information
A paved road exists between the town of
Mölle and a car park near the western tip of Kullaberg in the vicinity of the
lighthouse. Along this road there are several other car park opportunities and a variety of
trailheads leading to the numerous cliff paths and beach coves. Alternatively one may access hiking trails from the town of Molle itself or take a small boat from the
harbour in Molle.
Trivia
- In the 1980s controversial wood sculptures called Nimis were constructed from driftwood, situated in one of the cove areas. While some people consider this an artistic addition to the nature reserve, others consider it unappealing and the sculptures were the subject of legal dispute over their removal. This dispute resulted in the founding of the micronation Ladonia.
The Swedish family of Kullenberg takes its name from Kullaberg, where the first known member of the family lived in the 16th century.Further Information
Get more info on 'Kullaberg'.
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