Ullahau, Nature reserve on Gotland island, Sweden
Ullahau is a nature reserve on Gotland featuring a distinctive horseshoe-shaped sand dune that rises above the surrounding pine forests. The area covers several hundred hectares with open sandy sections interrupted by wooded zones.
The sand dunes formed centuries ago when large-scale forest clearing and heavy grazing exposed the ground to wind erosion. The site later received protection to preserve the landscape that had developed from these historical changes.
The reserve shows how wind and sand have shaped this part of Gotland into a distinctive landscape with open areas breaking through forest. Visitors come here to experience how nature adapts and changes in places left to its own rhythm.
The reserve is accessible on foot, though sturdy shoes are recommended since the sandy terrain can be uneven. No motor vehicles, camping, fires, or collection of insects are permitted to maintain the natural conditions.
The open sandy areas create a warm microclimate where rare wasp species and all three Swedish varieties of antlions thrive. These specialized conditions make the reserve a refuge for insects that are hard to find elsewhere.
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