What we see today is the remains of an extremely rich marine life. The mussel shells around the shell bank museum are primarily from rock mussels and giant acorn barnacles. Apart from mussel shells, subfossils from 103 types of non-vertebrates have been found as well as evidence of many vertebrates, such as cod, ringed seal, Swedenborg’s whale, polar bear and deer.
This lime rich land has given rise to interesting flora and fauna. The flowering of which culminates between June and August and, consequently, at this time many species of butterflies can be seen.
Today about 10% of the once gigantic banks remains. The area was brutally exploited during the 19th and 20th centuries. Shell remains were processed into chicken feed and fertilizers and used as hardcore for road building.
Eventually the value of these unique shell banks was understood and the area at Bräcke-Kuröd was designated a nature reserve. In connection with Uddevalla’s 500th year anniversary celebrations in 1998, a museum exhibiting fossils found on the site and depicting the formation process of the shell banks was opened. The museum is located on Kurödsvägen.
Open:
June-August