A few of the islands have small permanent populations, but most are used only for recreation in the summer months.

[1] The islands in the Swedish sector make up the Norrbotten archipelago.

[4] 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.

As a result, the islands are growing in size but the waters and harbors are becoming shallower.

[5] 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.