AstroBlonde

I've heard an amusing thing today: "Öland" is not an island! :D

Ok, let me explain to people what Öland is. Öland (Ö is Swedish for island, land is the same as in English = Island-land) is a county in Sweden, which to me always been an island.

But, according to the European union, Öland is not an island. To be an island the place has to:

Be surrounded with water

Öland is surrounded with water, for sure!

Have more then 50 people living on it

Well, my view of an island is independent of the number of residents, but ok. Öland has 24 697 people living there according to Wikipedia.
So what's the problem with Öland being an island? Well, it has a bridge from the mainland!

Not have a bridge connected to mainland, unless necessary for people to travel somewhere else.

I was laughing my socks off when I heard this! Öland, looks like an island and the name even says it's an island but according to the European Union it's not an island. What is even more funny about this, is that if they build one more brigde to Öland, it is considered an island. :D

I mean, not only does European Union meddling in how bent cucumbers are when they are for sale. Now they interfere with what is an island or not! Öland goes way back in time, but the brigde was built in 1972 (Ölandsbron). The European Union, on the other hand, was founded in 1993 (although EU traces its origin from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), formed by six countries in 1958). Is is just me who thinks that this is just not right? I just think it's so stupid that I even laugh about it!

Extra note: The reporter asked an old lady and said "What do you have to say about Öland not being an island?" and the old woman was like "What? Are you stupid or what?!". The reporter continued "Öland is not an island according to the European Union", and the old woman said "Öland is an island, just look at the map for god's sake!". I just love the old lady's attidute! :D