Mälaren

Mälaren (Swedish without German article; also German der Mälarsee, outdated der Mellersee) is after Vänern and Vättern with 1090 km² the third largest lake in Sweden and thus about twice as large as Lake Constance. Located west of Stockholm, it is up to 66 m deep and connected to the Baltic Sea via the Södertälje Canal, the Hammarby Lock, the Slussen Lock and the Norrström.

Until the Viking Age, Mälaren was a Baltic Sea bay; only in the 10th century was it gradually separated from the Baltic Sea by postglacial land uplift. The lake's surface today is about 70 cm above sea level. Through companies such as Stockholm Vatten and Norrvatten, water is drawn from the lake for about 1.3 million people. There are also 25 rune stones and Iron Age graves at the lake.

Along Mälaren are the cities of Stockholm, Södertälje, Västerås, Enköping and Köping, among others, as well as famous sights such as Gripsholm Castle in Mariefred, Drottningholm Castle and the 8th-10th century trading post of Birka.

Despite the many weekend homes on the lakeshore, which are primarily inhabited by residents of the urban agglomeration, there are large unexploited areas that make the lake attractive as a recreational area alongside the Stockholm Archipelago off the coast. The many bays, islands and peninsulas also contribute to the lake's varied beauty. Mälaren is, with islands and beach areas, classified as a realm interest.

Nature

There are 31 species of fish in the lake, of which the smelt is the most common.

The characteristic bird of Mälaren is the osprey, which is found here in larger numbers. In addition to the osprey, the species most frequently recorded during a census in 2005 were the common tern, herring gull, black-headed gull, mallard, tufted duck, Canada goose, goldeneye, lesser black-backed gull and common sandpiper. The cormorant, which has been breeding in the lake again since 1994, was found to have more than 2,000 clutches during this count.

Around Mälaren

Since 1892, with interruptions, the approximately 300 kilometer long cycling race Around Mälaren (Mälaren Runt) was held, in 1987 for the last time. It was Sweden's most important road race, leading from Stockholm around the lake and back to Stockholm. From 1906 to 1946 and in the 1950s the Swedish road championship was held there. At the 1912 Olympic Games, the road race was held on this course.