LARGEST -- alvar in Europe, Öland, Sweden
Posted by: 
ToRo61
N 56° 24.082 E 016° 29.272
33V E 591827 N 6251744
The Stora Alvaret is a limestone barren plain on the island of Öland
Waymark Code: WMEV2P
Location: Kalmar, Sweden
Date Posted: 07/08/2012
Views: 11
Öland is the second largest Swedish island and the smallest of the traditional provinces of Sweden.
An alvar is a biological environment based on a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse grassland vegetation.
The Stora Alvaret in the southwest portion of the island of Öland is a limestone barren plain. 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 extraordinary biodiversity and prehistory. The area of this formation exceeds 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi), making it the largest such expanse in Europe and comprising over one fourth of the land area of the island. Stora Alvaret is not devoid of trees, contrary to a common misconception; in fact, it holds a variety of sparse stunted trees akin to a pygmy forest.[1] The Stora Alvaret, sometimes called the Great Alvar, is a dagger shaped expanse almost 40 kilometres (25 mi) long and about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) at the widest north end.
Source: Wikipedia
Type of documentation of superlative status: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stora_Alvaret#Prehistoric_man
Location of coordinates: approximate center of Stora Alvaret
Web Site: [Web Link]
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