[6] Due to post-glacial rebound the land is rising at from 0.8 to 1 centimetre (0.31 to 0.39 in) annually, so the shoreline can retreat by as much as 100 metres (330 ft) in one person's lifetime.

The middle zone holds the islands of Altappen, Bockön, Degerön, Fjuksön, Germandön, Hamnön, Hindersön, Junkön, Kallaxön, Lappön, Långön, Mannön, Nagelskäret, Sandskäret, Sigfridsön, Storbrändön, Stor-Furuön and Tistersöarna.

The outer zone contains Bastaskäret, Brändöskäret, Båtön, Estersön, Finnskäret, Kluntarna, Mjoön, Norr-Espen, Rödkallen, Sandgrönnorna, Saxskäret, Smålsön, Småskär and Sör-Espen.

[2] The archipelago is only 100 kilometres (62 mi) south of the Arctic Circle, so there is daylight for 24 hours in the summer, and full moon all day in the winter.

[10] The longest ice road in Sweden at 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) runs from Hindersöstallarna on the mainland to the islands of Hindersön, Stor-Brändön, and Långön.

He praised the fair islands, with constant daylight in the summer, well-covered in trees, bushes and grass, with warm but refreshing air, set in a sea that was rich in fish.

[15] In some winters, Sami reindeer herders from the Lule River valley bring their herds across the ice for grazing on the islands, but only if required by weather conditions.

[16] As of 2004[update] there were over 8,000 small boats in Luleå, or about one for every eight people, letting the inhabitants of the city access the islands of the archipelago for recreation.

[6] Some of the other larger islands include Altappen, Brändöskär, Estersön, Finnskär, Germanön, Hertsöland, Junkön, Kallaxön, Likskär, Långön, Rörbäck Sandöskatan, Sandgrönnorna, Smålsön, Småskär, Stor-Brändön and Uddskär.

[21] The municipality maintains navigation marks, hostels, cabins, saunas and barbecue spots, and local entrepreneurs provide other facilities for visitors.