Which archipelago in Sweden, consisting of over 6,000 islands, is the largest in the country?

The Stockholm Archipelago is Sweden's largest archipelago, stretching eastward from Stockholm through the Baltic Sea. Although the question says it consists of over 6,000 islands, modern counts that include islands, islets, and skerries put the total at more than 24,000, so the stored answer remains correct.

The archipelago is a glacial landscape shaped by exposed bedrock, narrow channels, forests, and thousands of small rocky islands. Larger inhabited islands include Värmdö, Ljusterö, Möja, and Utö. Ferries connect many of them with Stockholm, making the area both a residential region and a major destination for boating and summer recreation.

Its waters and shoreline are also environmentally significant. Part of the archipelago has been designated a Ramsar wetland site since 1989, reflecting the importance of its marine and coastal habitats. The islands become increasingly scattered and less densely settled farther from the capital.

A common mix-up is the Archipelago Sea in nearby Finland. That is the Baltic's largest archipelago, while the Stockholm Archipelago is Sweden's largest. Gothenburg's archipelago is another Swedish island group, but it is much smaller.