Route 136 (Öland, Sweden)
Encyclopedia
Route 136 is the perimeter highway
on the island of Öland
, Sweden
. This facility is a paved two lane structure that circumnavigates the entire island. This highway constitutes the majority of named highway coverage on the island. Route 136 connects to Route 137 somewhat east of the Öland bridge
, which crosses the Kalmar Strait
. Much of the island of Öland has been designated a world heritage site by UNESCO in the form of the Stora Alvaret
nature reserve
. This reserve is home to a vast number of rare
and endangered species
due to the presence of an enormous limestone barren
, which is the largest such formation in Europe
. Route 136 is virtually the only spinal link allowing vehicle access to all parts of the Stora Alvaret.
Sites accessed by Route 136 are the Gettlinge
stone ship
gravefield, Ottenby Nature Reserve and Halltorps Manor.
formation itself, which provides an excellent limestone
base. However, the most interesting geological feature associated with Route 136 is a lowing lying ridge scarcely exceeding four meters in height which is particularly noticeable in the western perimeter of Öland. This ridge is an accumulation of soils from the combination of glacial accumulation and wave action of the ocean when ocean levels were effectively higher. The ridge is an important feature since soil depths elsewhere on the Stora Alvaret are deminimus. Thus the ridge historically was the center of human development since it was one of the few places that supported farming, structure foundations and burial sites
. Thus the historic perimeter road and most of the towns of Öland closely follow this natural ridge.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
on the island of Öland
Öland
' is the second largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden. Öland has an area of 1,342 km² and is located in the Baltic Sea just off the coast of Småland. The island has 25,000 inhabitants, but during Swedish Midsummer it is visited by up to 500,000 people...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. This facility is a paved two lane structure that circumnavigates the entire island. This highway constitutes the majority of named highway coverage on the island. Route 136 connects to Route 137 somewhat east of the Öland bridge
Öland bridge
The Öland Bridge is a road bridge connecting Kalmar on mainland Sweden to Färjestaden on the island of Öland to its east. At long, it is one of the longest in all of Europe...
, which crosses the Kalmar Strait
Kalmar Strait
The Kalmar Strait, Kalmarsund, is a strait in the Baltic Sea, located between the Swedish island of Öland and the province of Småland of the Swedish mainland...
. Much of the island of Öland has been designated a world heritage site by UNESCO in the form of the Stora Alvaret
Stora Alvaret
The Stora Alvaret is a limestone barren plain on the island of Öland, Sweden. Because of the thin soil mantle and high pH levels, a great assortment of vegetation is found including numerous rare species. Stora Alvaret has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its...
nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
. This reserve is home to a vast number of rare
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
and endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
due to the presence of an enormous limestone barren
Alvar
An alvar is a biological environment based on a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse vegetation. It is also known as a pavement barren although this term is also used for similar landforms based on sandstone. In the United Kingdom the exposed landform is called a limestone...
, which is the largest such formation in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Route 136 is virtually the only spinal link allowing vehicle access to all parts of the Stora Alvaret.
Sites accessed by Route 136 are the Gettlinge
Gettlinge
Gettlinge is a village in the southwest portion of the island of Öland, Sweden. It is known for its impressive Viking stone ship burial ground. Gettlinge is situated on the western fringe of the Stora Alvaret, a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO. The site is readily visible from the...
stone ship
Stone ship
The Stone ship or ship setting was an early Germanic burial custom, characteristically Scandinavian but also found in Germany and the Baltic states. The grave or cremation burial is surrounded by tightly or loosely fit slabs or stones in the outline of a ship...
gravefield, Ottenby Nature Reserve and Halltorps Manor.
Geology
Much of Route 136 is built directly over the alvarAlvar
An alvar is a biological environment based on a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse vegetation. It is also known as a pavement barren although this term is also used for similar landforms based on sandstone. In the United Kingdom the exposed landform is called a limestone...
formation itself, which provides an excellent limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
base. However, the most interesting geological feature associated with Route 136 is a lowing lying ridge scarcely exceeding four meters in height which is particularly noticeable in the western perimeter of Öland. This ridge is an accumulation of soils from the combination of glacial accumulation and wave action of the ocean when ocean levels were effectively higher. The ridge is an important feature since soil depths elsewhere on the Stora Alvaret are deminimus. Thus the ridge historically was the center of human development since it was one of the few places that supported farming, structure foundations and burial sites
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
. Thus the historic perimeter road and most of the towns of Öland closely follow this natural ridge.