Skjælholmene

Skjælholmene is a pair of small islands located in the middle of Bunnefjorden, within the municipality of Nesodden. The islands are owned by Oslo municipality. They were previously known as “Skjærholmene,” but their official names were changed following a decision by Kartverket in 1992. Together the islands cover an area of 1.61 hectares.

Søndre Skjælholmen
The larger of the two, Søndre Skjælholmen is about 500 meters long and 100 meters wide. Its highest point reaches 10.4 meters above sea level. Despite a somewhat barren appearance, the island hosts 138 recorded plant species and a rich seabird fauna. The southern portion of the island and surrounding sea area are protected under the designation Søndre Skjælholmen naturreservat. The protection aims to conserve dry-grassland vegetation, seabirds, and the geological “Skjærholmen formation.” Motorized traffic is prohibited on land year-round and on water from April 15 to July 15. There is a small pier and some mooring bolts on the island’s north side.

Nordre Skjælholmen
The smaller island, Nordre Skjælholmen, measures roughly 260 meters by 90 meters. Its highest point is 12.7 meters above sea level. The entire island is protected under Nordre Skjælholmen naturreservat, designated in June 2009 under the broader conservation plan for Oslofjorden, with restrictions on land access during the seabird nesting season from April 15 to July 15.