(2018) MiNr. 454 ** - Aland - 4-bl - EUROPA bridges

Bomarsund Bridge - a historical monument of the Åland Islands

The Bomarsund Bridge is located in the Åland Islands, an autonomous archipelago of Finland, and connects the mainland of Sund with the ruins of the former Russian fortress of Bomarsund. Although today's bridge is a modern reinforced concrete structure, its name refers to the dramatic history of the area, which is also of deep significance to philatelists and lovers of northern European history.

Historical context: the fortress of Bomarsund

Fort Bomarsund was built by the Russian Empire in the first half of the 19th century as a strategic defensive point in the Baltic Sea. Its construction began in 1832 but was never fully completed. In 1854, the fortress was captured and destroyed by the combined British-French forces during the Crimean War.

The events surrounding Fort Bomarsund also had an impact on international politics, resulting in the so-called Aland Convention, which provided for the demilitarisation of the archipelago. This status remains to this day, making the Alands a unique territory in terms of international law and postal administration.