Søndre Sandøy

Søndre Sandøy is the southeasternmost of the Hvaler islands and features sandy beaches, hiking trails, extensive pine and spruce forests, and significant agricultural activity. The bedrock consists of beautiful gneiss, which has been used, among other things, as facade stone for Oslo City Hall.

The neighboring island of Nordre Sandøy lies just north of Søndre Sandøy, and both are located near the national border with Sweden. Sekken, the strait that separates the two Sandøy islands from Sweden, is only 800 meters wide at its narrowest point. The islands became popular vacation destinations for the residents of Halden very early on. Søndre Sandøy is known for its beautiful sandy beaches, most of which are private.

The island is 3.7 km long, 1.6 km wide, and has an area of 4.39 km². Today, the island is considered a vacation destination with over 500 cabins, but there are also some permanent residents (87 in 2009 according to Statistics Norway). The settlements are concentrated in two areas, both with ferry stops: Nedgården and Gravningsund. Motor vehicles are prohibited on the island without special permission.