If you have not visited Auglend yet, you must make a trip to this exciting area south on the southern island. Here you can read a little about what you can find there.
Geology
At Auglend you will find some of the oldest parts of the geology in Magma Geopark. The so-called Håland anorthosite characterises the area and the bare landscape allows us to walk on 1-billion-year-old anorthosite. There is a narrow zone of Gneissian rocks that are among the oldest rocks in Magma Geopark. These rocks were formed up to 1.6 billion years ago.
Coastal culture and landscape
Auglend farm has been an active farm through hundreds of years. Earlier, this was an uncultivated area belonging to the farm Hovland or Sæstad. When the land was cultivated it got its name, Auglend. Auglend means: ”the country that increased”. Agriculture and sheep farming alone could not provide enough food for the families living here,so fishing along the coastline was an important part of providing for the people at Auglend. Farming covered most of the daily household, while fishing provided income for purchase of additional goods and necessary equipment. This type of farm is called a combination farm. The boathouses in Vandringshavn to this day illustrate the great importance of the sea and fishing for the combination farms in the area for generations.
Coastal heath
Auglend is a typical coastal heathland area. It is characterized by hilly landscapes with noticeable contrast to the sea. Here you will find small coves and bays, islets and reefs. In cracked mountains, heather and junipers grow, and some areas are covered with bogs. In addition to heather, juniper and peat moss, you will find several delicate species, such as the endangered bellflower.
Ancient artefacts
There has been found artefacts in the area originating all the way back to the Stone Age at Auglend. Especially in the area called Husahalsen you can find traces of our ancestors.Here, several house foundations have been uncovered and flint finds indicate fireplaces and hunting. In Løvebukten (the Lions Bay), the warship ”Norske Løve” ran aground in a severe storm in 1666. The captain steered the ship into Løvebukta, the crew was rescued ashore and in the winter of 1666/67 salvage work was done to ensure that none of the equipment was captured by the English. To this day, one can find traces of ”Norske Løve” in Løvebukta.
Marine diversity
Due to its location and the ocean currents that flow past Auglend, one finds a unique diversity of life below the sea surface in this area. Brønnesodden stands out in particular with its caves, corals and a fantastic underwater landscape. In large cracks, fungi, hydroids, crustaceans and countless species of fish can be found