Närsholmen Explained

Närsholmen
Map:Sweden Gotland
Label:Närsholmen
Label Position:right
Coordinates:57.2333°N 18.6833°W
Location:Baltic Sea
Area Km2:2
Area Footnotes:[1]
Coastline M:-->
Country:Sweden

Närsholmen is a peninsula and a nature reserve on the southeast coast of Gotland, Sweden, adjacent the village of När. The landscape is savanna-like and has a rich birdlife, about 45 species has been spotted, and a number of orchids. In the late part of summer, the peninsula is covered with Echium vulgare. The reserve was established in 1986. It was also designated as a Natura 2000 area.[2]

The När Lighthouse is situated on the southern tip of the peninsula.[3] The lighthouse played a role during the end of World War II when it was used as a beacon for refugees from the Baltic states crossing the Baltic Sea to Gotland.

Närsholmen was an island until the 18th century. During the Middle Ages and until the 16th century, the island was used as grazing grounds for the livestock of the Roma Abbey. The area was confiscated from the abbey by the Swedish government during the Swedish Reformation and is still used for grazing.

Närsholmen is most noted for being the location where film-maker Andrei Tarkovsky filmed the last scene of his last film, The Sacrifice.[4]

In 2011, singer Lykke Li filmed the video for her song "I Follow Rivers", on Närsholmen. The music video was directed by Tarik Saleh and features Li and actor Fares Fares.[5] [6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Närsholmen. www.nar.se. När Heritage Society. 25 June 2015.
  2. Web site: Pettersson. Lena. Närsholmen. www.lansstyrelsen.se. The County Administrative Boards of Gotland County. 25 June 2015.
  3. 25 June 2015.
  4. Web site: Vintersång och toner till minne av Tarkovskij. Winter songs in the memory of Tarkovskij. www.sverigesradio.se. 29 December 2012. Sveriges Radio. 25 June 2015.
  5. Web site: Adams. Gregory. Lykke Li. 27 January 2011. www.exclaim.ca. Exclaim!. 21 December 2015.
  6. Web site: Slater . Luke . Watch: New Lykke Li video for 'I Follow Rivers' . . 27 January 2011 . 20 January 2014 . 1 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201194755/http://drownedinsound.com/news/4141893-watch--new-lykke-li-video-for-i-follow-rivers . dead .
  7. Web site: 'I Follow Rivers' Video . lykkeli.com . 27 January 2011 . 20 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140101112645/http://www.lykkeli.com/news%2Ci-follow-rivers-video_63.htm . 1 January 2014 .