Larsmo

Larsmo (Finnish: Luoto) is an archipelago municipality in Ostrobothnia.

Understand

The municipality consists of a few large and some 350 minor islands and islets between Jakobstad and Kokkola. To the west is the sea, to the east is the lake-like Larsmosjön, a large bay separated from the sea by the main islands of Larsmo and dams, to provide fresh water to the industries in the neighbouring cities.

Swedish is the main language (92%, Finnish 5%). Religion is more important in Larsmo than in most of Finland, with a strong Laestadian influence. In the election the biggest parties are the Christian Democrats and the Swedish People's Party, at some 30–50% each, compared to some 5% in the country over all.

The traditional livelihoods have been fishing and agriculture, but small-scale industry is now more important, including Baltic Yachts, which builds customised luxury sailing yachts (15–60 m).

Get in

By car

Regional road 749 connecting Jakobstad and Kokkola leads over the main islands of Larsmo. The road is indeed also called the "Archipelago road of the seven bridges" (Sju broars skärgårdsväg).

By bus

There are buses from Vaasa, Jakobstad and Kokkola.

See

• 1 Bjärgas local history museum, Fagernäsvägen. Learn about the life in bygone days. (updated Aug 2023)

Eat

• 1 Pikap, Kackurvägen. Fast food place, the name is "pick up" (referring to take away) written as one would literally write it in Swedish. (updated Aug 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Seitsemän Sillan Majatalo, Norra Larsmovägen 481, ☏ +358 400 562088, info@lahetyskoti.fi. Guesthouse operated by the Finnish-language Pentecostal congregation. (updated Aug 2023)