The Åland Islands, an autonomous and demilitarized region of Finland, are located in the Baltic Sea at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia, consisting of around 6,700 islands, of which about 60 are inhabited. The unique status of Åland originates from its strategic location and complex history, particularly its Swedish-speaking population and ties to both Sweden and Finland. Historically, the islands were ruled by Sweden until 1809, when they were ceded to Russia along with Finland. After Finland declared independence from Russia in 1917, intense negotiations and disputes followed between Sweden and Finland over the sovereignty of Åland, as its inhabitants overwhelmingly wished to reunite with Sweden. Ultimately, in 1921, the League of Nations awarded sovereignty to Finland with strict guarantees for Åland’s cultural and linguistic autonomy, as well as demilitarization. Today, Åland maintains its own parliament, issues its own stamps, and retains Swedish as its sole official language, reflecting its distinct identity within Finland.