Definition:

The Gulf of Bothnia is a large body of water between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. The southern end of the gulf includes the romantic Åland Islands. The Gulf of Bothnia is up to 240 km (150 mi) wide and 725 km (450 mi) long.

In the western region of the Gulf of Bothnia travelers can enjoy untouched nature with endless pine forests, and plan photo tours of the wilderness and the pristine coastline.


Make sure to consider the local weather, though.

Unlike the metropolitan centers to the south, the area’s quiet cities offer visitors lower prices and are excellent starting points for nature excursions.

The largest surrounding towns are Gävle, Luleå, Umeå and Sundsvall on the Swedish side, and Oulu, Vaasa and Pori on the Finnish side of the gulf.

In spring 2010, thick ice developed in the Gulf of Bothnia and stranded dozens of ships. It took over two weeks for icebreakers to free the vessels that collectively carried thousands of passengers. The Gulf of Bothnia is frozen over five months every year due to its low salinity brought on by incoming freshwater from numerous rivers.

Fun Fact: The icing of the Baltic Sea always begins and ends in the Gulf of Bothnia.

Alternate Spellings: In Finnish, the Gulf of Bothnia is called Pohjanlahti. In Swedish, the gulf is referred to as Bottniska viken.