Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, July 20, 2008 by Ella Derbyshire

Nikon D80's

In the mid-18th Century, on a group of seven islands in the Gulf of Finland south of Helsinki, the Swedish government built a series of forts to protect Finland, which was then under Swedish rule, from the Navy of Russia.

A Swedish aristocrat and artilleryman named Augustin Ehrensvard designed the fortress on the Islands and oversaw beginning in 1748, the construction of the sea fortress which was named Sveaborg in 1750. At the time Helsinki was a small seaside village and the population of the fortress far exceeded that of Helsinki. Finland, Helsinki and the sea fortress remained under Swedish rule until Russia assumed control of Finland as a new Grand Duchy in 1808. Russian rule lasted over a century and ended with Finland's declaration of independence from Russia in 1917.

The fortess has seen battles under Swedish and Russian rule. It sustained heavy damage in the Crimean War. It was repaired and refortified and saw service again in World War I.

The fortress is no longer a military installation but is instead a residential community and a tourist attraction. The island's buildings are now beautifully restored. There are great flowery hillsides and underground rooms to explore. There are sweeping views of Helsinki on the mainland. There are places to climb and play among the old weapons of war.

Please come explore the sea fortress as it appeared in late July 2008. The panorama was photographed with a Nikon D80 and stitched with Autopano Pro.