Mälaren

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Mälaren
Image:Mälarsee.jpg at dusk
Location	Sweden
Coordinates	59°30′N 17°12′ECoordinates: 59°30′N 17°12′E
Basin countries	Sweden
Surface area	1120 km²
Average depth	13 m
Max-depth	63 m
Water volume	14 km³
Islands	Selaön, Svartsjölandet (see list)

Image:Mälaren.png

Image:La2-demis-malaren.png

Mälaren (sv-Mälaren.ogg (help·info)) is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. The lake drains, from west to east, into the Baltic Sea at Stockholm through Södertälje kanal, Norrström, Slussen and Hammarbyslussen. The easternmost bay of Mälaren, in central Stockholm, is called Riddarfjärden. The lake is located in Svealand and bounded by the provinces of Uppland, Södermanland, Närke, and Västmanland. The two largest islands in Mälaren are Selaön (91 km²) and Svartsjölandet (79 km²).

The presence of the Zebra mussel is causing serious problems in Mälaren and is considered an invasive species.

Birka (viking age settlement on the island of Björkö) and Hovgården (on the neighbouring island Adelsö) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

According to Norse mythology, the lake was created by the goddess Gefjun when she tricked Gylfi, the Swedish king of Gylfaginning. The land thusly removed by Gefjun was transported to Denmark, becoming the island of Zealand.

[edit] Larger islands

This is a selection:

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Mälarguiden - Guide to Mälaren (mostly in Swedish but a lot of maps and some English text)
Strömma Kanalbolaget - Boat tours and ferries in Mälaren
Castles around Mälaren

edit this list

10 largest lakes in Sweden