View source for Ertholmene

{{Short description|Archipelago in the Baltic Sea}}
{{About|the island fortresses in Denmark|the fortress in Norway|Christiansø Fortress}}
{{Infobox islands
| name             = Ertholmene
| image_name       = Ertholmene aerial view of 3 islands asv2024-07.jpg
| image_caption    = Aerial view of Ertholmene, main islands
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| map_image        = Denmark location ertholmene.svg
| map_caption      = Location of Ertholmene in Denmark
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| location         = [[Baltic Sea]]
| coordinates      = {{coord|55|19|12|N|15|11|16|E|type:isle_scale:10000_region:DK|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      =
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| country          = [[Denmark]]
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{{Infobox military structure
|name=Fæstningen Christiansø
|location=Northeast of [[Bornholm]], [[Denmark]]
|image= Ertholmene Lilletårn on Frederiksø asv2024-07 img4.jpg
|caption=Lille Tårn ("Little Tower") on Frederiksø
|built=1684
|materials=
|used=1684–1855 (1863)
|type=Naval fortress
|controlledby=Denmark
|garrison=
|commanders=
|battles=[[Gunboat War]]
}}
{{Campaignbox English Wars}}
{{Designation list
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Ertholmene
| designation1_date = 9 February 1977
| designation1_number = 165<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ertholmene|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/165|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}

'''Ertholmene''' (formerly spelled ''Ærtholmene)'' is a small archipelago in [[Denmark]]. The largest island is '''Christiansø''', whose name [[Pars pro toto|is often used with reference to the entire archipelago]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Bornholm/Ertholmene|title=Ertholmene|last=Jørgensen|first=Jens Riis|date=7 December 2016|website=Den Store Danske|publisher=[[Gyldendal]]|access-date=24 April 2020}}</ref> Ertholmene are situated {{convert|18|km|mi}} northeast of [[Gudhjem]], [[Bornholm]], and include Denmark's [[Extreme points of Denmark|easternmost point]].<ref name=":0" /> Two of the islands, Christiansø and Frederiksø, are inhabited,<ref name=":0" /> with a combined permanent population ({{As of|2024||lc=y}}) of 91.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statistikbanken.dk/statbank5a/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?Maintable=BEF4&PLanguage=1|title=Population 1. January by islands|website=StatBank Denmark|publisher=[[Statistics Denmark]]|access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref> The archipelago has a total area of {{convert|39|ha}}. Its name is derived from the Danish for "pea islands".

Historically an important navy location, the fortress closed in 1855. Since then there has been no operable military infrastructure on the archipelago, but it remains under the formal administration of the [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence]], which employs 25 to 30 people for maintaining the islands' civilian infrastructure, museum and historical buildings.<ref name="FM2023">{{cite web| title=Christiansø Administration | url=https://www.fmn.dk/da/ministeriet/forsvarsministeriet/christianso/ | publisher=fmn.dk | access-date=8 March 2023 }}</ref> Today the economy of Ertholmene is almost entirely based on [[tourism]], with tens of thousands of visitors each year, the majority on day-trips from Bornholm during the summer months.<ref name="FM2023"/> The archipelago's buildings and nature are protected by law, and access to the uninhabited islands is restricted.<ref name="RI1984">{{cite web| title=Bekendtgørelse om fredning af øgruppen Ertholmene og omliggende søterritorium | url=https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/1984/576 | date=20 November 1984 | publisher=retsinformation.dk | access-date=8 March 2023 }}</ref>

== Islands ==
Ertholmene consists of three main islands, Christiansø, Frederiksø and Græsholm, plus a number of rocks and [[skerry|skerries]]. The inhabited islands of Christiansø and Frederiksø are accessible to visitors, but the remaining are only accessible to people with special permission.<ref name="RI1984"/>

* Christiansø, named after [[Christian V of Denmark|King Christian V]], has an area of {{convert|22.3|ha}}; it is the largest island in the archipelago. It is home to [[Christiansø Church]] and [[Christiansø Lighthouse]]. The highest point of Ertholmene is Møllebakken on Christiansø, {{cvt|22|m}} above sea level.
* Frederiksø, named after [[Frederick IV of Denmark|King Frederick IV]], has an area of {{convert|4|ha}}. It is the only other inhabited island besides Christiansø. It is located just west of Christiansø, and connected to it via a {{convert|30|m|adj=on}} [[swing bridge]] for pedestrians. The sound between Christiansø and Frederiksø is a well-sheltered natural harbour. Frederiksø is home to Christiansø Museum, which is situated inside Lille Tårn ("Little Tower").
* Græsholm has an area of {{convert|11|ha}} and is located {{cvt|250|m}} northwest of Frederiksø. It is uninhabited and serves as a bird reserve, with large breeding colonies of [[common eider]], [[red-breasted merganser]], [[gull]]s, [[common murre]] and [[razorbill]].<ref name="DOF Ertholmene">{{cite web| title=Ertholmene | url=https://www.dof.dk/oplev-fuglene/fuglesteder/bornholm/ertholmene | publisher=[[Danish Ornithological Society]] | access-date=9 March 2023 }}</ref> These murre and razorbill colonies used to be the only in Denmark,<ref name="DOF Ertholmene"/> but in recent decades smaller numbers began breeding at [[Hammeren]] on Bornholm (very large numbers winter in Danish seas).<ref>{{cite web| title=Hammeren og Slotslyngen | url=https://www.dof.dk/oplev-fuglene/fuglesteder/bornholm/hammeren-og-slotslyngen | publisher=[[Danish Ornithological Society]] | access-date=9 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=De "danske pingviner" kan nu spottes i Nordjylland | url=https://www.tv2nord.dk/nordjylland/de-danske-pingviner-kan-nu-spottes-i-nordjylland | date=30 January 2021 | publisher=TV2 Nord | access-date=9 March 2023 }}</ref>
* Østerskær is a skerry located {{cvt|300|m}} east of Christiansø. It is the easternmost point of Denmark, at 15° 11' 55" E longitude.
* Tat is a skerry located {{cvt|1.1|km|1}} northwest of Christiansø and Frederiksø. It is {{cvt|100|m}} long and {{cvt|75|m}} wide, and surrounded by a number of smaller skerries. It contains a lighthouse, and serves as a bird reserve. Ertholmene is home to a large population of [[grey seal]]s and it is not unusual for hundreds to rest on Tat.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ertholmene | url=https://mst.dk/friluftsliv/danmarks-naturkanon/ertholmene/ | publisher=Miljøstyrelsen, [[Ministry of Environment (Denmark)|Ministry of Environment]] | access-date=9 March 2023 }}</ref>

==History==

Fishermen from Bornholm have used Ertholmene for temporary shelter since the [[Middle Ages]]. The first permanent settlement was the result of the Danish-Swedish conflicts in the late 17th century. As Denmark needed a naval base in the central Baltic Sea, a [[fortress]] was built on Christiansø and Frederiksø in 1684 which served as an outpost for the [[Royal Danish Navy|Danish Navy]] until 1855. [[Christiansø Church]] originally served the garrison.<ref name=natmus>[http://danmarkskirker.natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tcchurchsearch/Bornholm_532-555.pdf Otto Norn, C. G. Schultz, Erik Skov, "Christiansø Kirke"]: Bornholms Nørre Herred, Danmarks Kirker, Bornholm, Nationalmuseet, Gad, 1954, pp. 576–583. {{in lang|da}} Retrieved 2 October 2012</ref> The population peaked at the census in 1810 which showed 829 inhabitants. They were soldiers and were there because of the [[Gunboat War]]. 

Many of the historical buildings now serve as living quarters for the local population, and some are rented, year after year, to regular summer residents. The islands' external appearance has changed very little in over 300 years. Girdled by thick granite walls with old cannons pointed seaward, Christiansø is a picturesque tourist spot seemingly frozen in time.  A former part of the fortress, ''Store Tårn'' has housed the [[Christiansø Lighthouse]] for the past 200 years,<ref>Anker E. Kofoed: ''Christiansøs Historie'', Christiansøs Museum, 1984. {{in lang|da}}</ref> and a small round tower on Frederiksø, ''Lille Tårn,'' serves as a museum.

== Notable people ==
* [[Ernst Wilhelm Stibolt]] (born 1741 in Christiansø – 1796) a Danish naval officer and ship builder; his father, (naval) Commander Caspar Henrik [[Stibolt]], was Commandant of Christiansø for many years. 

==Demography and administrative status==
Together with Bornholm, Ertholmene is part of Landsdel Bornholm. Ertholmene makes up the Parish of Christiansø in the [[Church of Denmark]] and is served by [[Christiansø Church]]. On 1 January 2017 out of 78 inhabitants in total there were 69 members of the Church of Denmark (88.46% of the population). Ertholmene has never been part of a municipality, county, or region.

The islands form an [[unincorporated area]] that does not belong to either a municipality or a region. Instead they are state property governed by an administrator, appointed by the [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Danish Ministry of Defence]], with the responsibility being the tasks normally performed by municipalities and other public sector civil services.<ref name="FM2023"/>

== Economy ==
The major sources of income in Ertholmene is [[tourism]]. There are about 45,000 visitors per year, mostly day visitors arriving via Bornholm during the summer months.<ref name="FM2023"/> Ertholmene is also a popular destination for [[yachting]]. Fishing used to be the main source of income, but today there are no commercial fishers on the islands.<ref>{{cite news| title=Den sidste fisker på Christiansø er flyttet
 | url=https://fiskeritidende.dk/nyheder/gl-fiskeritidende/den-sidste-fisker-paa-christiansoe-er-flyttet/ | date=7 February 2014 | publisher=Fiskeritidende | access-date=8 March 2023 }}</ref>

=== Taxation ===
The islanders, who do not pay municipal taxes of any kind and were never part of a municipality, were exempt from the central government "Health Contribution" tax (''Sundhedsbidrag'') which stood at 8% when it was introduced on 1 January 2007 with [[Municipalities of Denmark#Municipal Reform 2007|''Kommunalreformen'' ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007)]], because it was thought that the relatively isolated islets would otherwise be abandoned. This tax replaced the [[Counties of Denmark|county]] tax, which the islanders were also exempt from paying, not being part of a county. From 1 January 2019 this tax has been abolished, while income taxes in the lowest bracket have been raised simultaneously instead with this tax being phased out.<ref>[http://www.bornholm.nu/?Id=10317 Bornholm.nu » Christiansø » Ingen sundhedsskat på Chr.ø<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.bornholm.nu/?Id=7904 Bornholm.nu » Christiansø » Bornholm kan få Christiansø<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
Ertholmene Lilletårn on Frederiksø asv2024-07 img2.jpg|View from Christiansø to Frederiksø
Karte Christiansø.jpg|Map of Christiansø and Frederiksø
Ertholmene.jpg|''Ærtholmene'' around 1900
Ertholmene 1756.JPG|Map of Ertholmene, 1756
Coat of arms of Christiansø.svg|Coat of arms of Christiansø
Ertholmene Christiansø Havn asv2024-07 img2.jpg|Christiansø Havn
</gallery>

{{wide image|Panorama Frederikso i Christianso - panoramio.jpg|750px|Panorama of Frederiksø and Christiansø|100%}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ertholmene}}
* {{Official website|http://www.christiansoe.dk/}}

{{Bornholm Denmark}}
{{Denmark islands}}
{{Islands in the Baltic Sea}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

[[Category:Forts in Denmark]]
[[Category:Danish islands in the Baltic]]
[[Category:Islands of Denmark]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of the Baltic Sea]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in Denmark]]
[[Category:Car-free islands of Europe]]
[[Category:Bornholm]]
[[Category:Christian V of Denmark]]
[[Category:Frederick IV of Denmark]]