The Bäckahästen – The Brook Horse of Åland's Waters
The bäckahästen (brook horse) is a shapeshifting water spirit that appears as a beautiful, seemingly tame horse near streams, lakes, or the sea. When someone climbs onto its back, the horse gallops into the water and drowns its rider. The legend was particularly used to warn children away from dangerous waters. In some versions, the bäckahästen can be tricked by throwing a piece of steel or iron over its head, forcing it to revert to its true form. This creature overlaps with the Näcken tradition and is closely related to the Celtic kelpie. The countless inlets, streams, and shallow coastal wa