Lake Wettern

The picturesque and huge lake Wettern is surrounded by mountains and enjoys no less success among anglers and outdoor enthusiasts than Venern. It is 2.5 times smaller, but it is on its shores and islands that the royal residences have been preserved.

The length is 135 km.
The width reaches 31 km.
The area is 1,912 km2.
The maximum depth is 128 m.
The average depth is 41 m.
The coastline is about 642 km long.
The volume of water is 77 km3.
The height above sea level is 88 m.

The eastern and western shores of the lake are covered with dense forests, spread out on the slopes of low but very beautiful mountains. The bottom and shores of the reservoir are mostly rocky. The volume of water is maintained in any season with the help of specially created hydraulic structures, so that the fluctuations in the level of the Wettern mirror are almost invisible.

Eight thousand years ago, in the Mesolithic era, its shores were already inhabited. The oldest remains of ancient people were discovered near the town of Mutala on the eastern shore. Later, during the Middle Ages, this beautiful body of water, or rather, its islands and shores, more than once became places for the construction of royal castles. The most famous castle, preserved to this day and attracting tourists to the lake, is Vadstena Castle-Palace. It was built in the 16th century as a stronghold to protect Stockholm from the enemy Danish army. Then it lost its status as a royal residence and now welcomes guests from all over the world as a museum. The majority of the islands are concentrated in the northern part of the Wettern, while the main island is alone in the south. This place is a favorite of tourists and royalty of the past — the island of Visingse. It is located in the southern part of the lake and its oblong shape resembles a smaller copy of the reservoir. According to Scandinavian legend, this island was once created by a giant for his wife so that she could cross to the other side of the Wettern without getting her feet wet.

The Swedes have created an excellent tourist infrastructure on the island. The ruins of ancient buildings, traces of ancient settlements and modern installations are harmoniously combined here — knightly festivals, competitions in which real representatives of noble dynasties take part, among others. Among the natural attractions of Visingse, it is worth noting the famous oak groves, which were laid by the Swedes for the development of shipbuilding. There is a ferry from the city of Grenna to the island. On the other side of the lake is the Karlsborg Fortress. Its construction took 90 years, so it never had to become the residence of the royal family, but for many tourists Karlsborg means no less than Vadstena Castle.

Lake Vettern is harsh in a Scandinavian way, but predictable. The minor tributaries that feed this natural freshwater reservoir are low-water and overregulated. The flow through the Mutala River, which carries its waters to the Baltic Sea, is also under control. In addition, the lake is connected to its older companion Wennern and the Baltic Sea by the Geta Canal, which allows the Swedes to control the entire huge hydraulic system.

Trout and char are valuable commercial fish of the salmon family — a common catch for the Wettern. There are also huge pike and walleye here. At the same time, anyone can catch any fish in the lake without paying fees and obtaining permits. Only fishing with nets is prohibited here. Perhaps that is why fishermen from all over the country and even foreign tourists come to the lake all year round (and it freezes only in February). International salmon fishing competitions are held annually on the shores of the Wettern.

An interesting feature of the lake is its changeable currents. Dozens of times a day, the water flows change their direction, creating unpredictable conditions for fishermen. However, those who are lucky enough to "get into the wave" will be able to return home with an amazing catch. If you are unlucky, you can get into a foggy shroud, which often covers large surfaces of the lake.

Despite the increased attention of tourists to the lake and the active agricultural activity in the central region of Sweden, the state diligently protects the Wettern from environmental problems.

Waste disposal is prohibited in the territories adjacent to the reservoir, as well as in the channels of its tributaries. Wastewater from settlements, the largest of which is Yenking with a population of over 125,000 people, is undergoing serious treatment. Industrial enterprises, which are located in small numbers near the shores of the reservoir, comply with the strictest environmental parameters.

Thanks to these measures, the Swedes proudly declare that the water in the lake is the cleanest, and in some settlements of the country, water from the Wettern goes into the water supply system without additional purification. What to say, even if visibility underwater reaches 16 meters.