A'LAND ISLANDS (pronounced Oland), a numerous group of small islands and rocks at the entrance of the gulf of Bothnia, opposite Abo, about 25 m. froM the Swedish coast, and 15 from that of Finland. They are called, by the • Finns, Ahvenanmaa. About 80 of them are inhabited. Although these rocky isles are covered with but a thin stratum of soil, they bear Scotch fir, spruce, and birch trees, and with proper cultivation produce barley and oats, besides affording subsistence to a hardy breed of cattle. The inhabitants are of Swedish origin. skillful sailors, fishermen, and seal-hunters. The total population is about 16,000. The largest of the islands, which gives its name, (signifying " land of streams") to the whole group, is about 18 in. long by 14 broad. It is tolerably wooded and fruitful, and contains nearly 11,000 inhabitants. These islands belonged formerly to Sweden, but were seized by Russia in 1809. Previous to this,
they had several times changed hands 'between these two powers. Id 1717, the Swedes were defeated by the Russians in a naval engagement near Aland, the first important exploit of the Muscovite navy. The importance of these islands as a military position led to the construction, in the reign of the emperor Nicholas, of those strong fortifications at Bomarsund which, in Aug., 1854, were destroyed by the Anglo-French force, com manded by Sir Charles Napier and Baraguay d'Hilliers. Two thousand prisoners were taken. This extensive fortress (which is supposed to have been but the first of an intended series of simihir menacing fortifications in the Baltic) commanded the anchor age of Ytterntes, capable of containing a large fleet.