Tuesday 12 June 2012

V for Vänern and Vänersborg

ABC Wednesday - V33170194

Vänern (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈvɛːnəɳ]) is the largest lake in Sweden, the largest lake in the EU and the third-largest lake in Europe after two in Russia. It is located in the southwest of the country in the provinces of Västergötland (east side), Dalsland (west side), and Värmland (north side).

Geologically, Lake Vänern was formed after the last ice age about 10,000 years ago.

Lake Vänern covers an area of 5,655 km2 (2,183 sq mi). It is located at 44 m (144 ft) above sea level and is on average 27 m (89 ft) deep. The maximum depth of the lake is 106 m (348 ft).

There are 22000 islands of various size in the lake, and many different fish species. Along the shores there are also some excellent beaches for bathing in the summer.

The lake’s main tributary is Klarälven, which flows into the lake near the city of Karlstad, on the northern shore. It is drained to the south-west by Göta älv. Thanks to the canal and locks at Trollhättan, quite large freightships are able to pass between Gothenburg (Göteborg) on the west coast, and Lake Vänern. 

Map picture

File:Lastfartyg Gropbron.JPG

At the south-west end of Lake Vänern, at the river mouth of Göta älv, you find the town Vänersborg (see the red pin).  Having blogged about Trollhättan for T (my birth town) and Uddevalla for U, Vänersborg is sort of a given for V. For some purposes, these three towns form an administrative unit, and in that context they are often referred to as Trestad (Three-town).

The name Vänersborg means “fortress at Vänern".  There are no castle ruins to visit in the town, but there used to be an ancient hill fort at a mountain in the area - Halleberg. Nowadays better known as a good place for tourists to go looking for elks (moose).

File:Halleberg.jpg

The plateau mountain Halleberg, Västergötland, Sweden.

Besides being a town of trade because of the position at the lake and river/canal, Vänersborg has long served as an administrative centre in the region.

File:Vänersborg, Gamla Hamnkanalen och Hamngatan, den 5 juli 2006.JPG

A Swedish poet in the early 1900s nicknamed the town “Little Paris”.

Personal notes

I don’t have any particular memories from the town of Vänersborg; but in the summers we would sometimes go on an outing to one of the beaches along the shore of Lake Vänern:

File:Ursand.jpg

Ursand, Vänern

Gardesanna, Vänern

Gardesanna, Vänern

The only photo in this post that is my own is the one at the top of this post, and that’s from the northern shores of Lake Vänern rather than the Vänersborg area.

I also lived ten years in Karlstad on the northern end of the lake, but that town deserves a post of its own (perhaps in the next ABC-round).

The rest of  the photos in this post are from Wikipedia and from badkartan.se

19 comments:

  1. That is huge and thanks for the information. I learn something today.

    Kim,USA

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  2. Fantastic shots. Looks like a beautiful lake and also lovely surroundings. Carver ABC-Wed. Team

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  3. Thanks for taking on your tour by the lake. Impressive size! Love your pic with the boat with the bridge up. Have a great week, Monika!

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    1. Wish I could take credit for that picture but I copied it from Wikipedia.

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  4. beautiful. I did not know of it prominence!
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  5. It is a lovely lake and looks so inviting. I like the sandy beach.

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  6. What a pretty lake! Sweden looks like a very beautiful place to live!

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  7. There is such clarity in Northern skies, it seems to me and this is in turn reflected by the water, (except where it's muddy).

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  8. these are beautiful! the lock is fascinating, and the rock fortress is majestic.

    V is for...

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  9. I don't blame all those tourists wanting to go there! Largest lake in the EU... now, that sounds like a question that could come up at the pub quiz some time, and hopefully, I'll then remember your interesting post about Vänern.

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  10. Hej Monika, vad trevligt att få 'åka' på en tur genom vänersborg/Trollhättan igen. Jag växte upp på Orust, men har även bott i Säffle trakten i ca 3 år innan jag slutligen hamnade på Irland. Ha en bra dag!

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  11. that is a LOT of islands in that great big lake. its beautiful. I like that mountains shot with all those beautiful trees.

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  12. How wonderful to spend summers on a lake with islands. beautiful shots.

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  13. Beautiful views.

    Eye View
    Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

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  14. I love your beautiful header and background today. Thanks for this tour, I really enjoyed it. I LOVE the sheer cliff of that mountain with pine trees on the top and bottom! And the big ship picture. Little Paris, wow!!! I am wanting to come there more and more. Actually, your tourism board should pay you LOTS for most of your posts!!!!

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  15. 22000 islands really helps me understand the VASTNESS of Lake Vanern. Really interesting and informative post.

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    1. It sounds a lot to me too, I can only assume every rock that sticks up over the surface counts as an island. (I wonder who counted!)

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  16. It wasn't just the size for me either but the number of islands which impressed me most.

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