Lake Mälar (Mälaren)
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Lake Mälar, Sweden's third largest lake (after Lakes Vänern and Vättern), lies immediately west of Stockholm. 117km/73mi long, it extends through the provinces of Västmanland, Södermanland, Uppsala and Stockholm to the Baltic, with a total area of 1,140sq.km/440sq.mi.
It is irregularly shaped, its shores indented by numerous arms and inlets. Its principal tributary rivers are the Eskilstunaå, Arbogaå, Hedström, Kolbäckså, Svartå, Örsundaå and Fyriså. At one time Lake Mälar was an arm of the Baltic, but since the 12th century, because of a fall in the water level, it has been an inland lake.
It is irregularly shaped, its shores indented by numerous arms and inlets. Its principal tributary rivers are the Eskilstunaå, Arbogaå, Hedström, Kolbäckså, Svartå, Örsundaå and Fyriså. At one time Lake Mälar was an arm of the Baltic, but since the 12th century, because of a fall in the water level, it has been an inland lake.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Around the shores of the lake - which are partly fertile and partly rocky - there are many castles, manor houses and estates. There are over 1,000 islands in the lake, with boat services to many of them (including Björkö) in summer. The principal towns on the lake are Stockholm, Västerås and, farther north, Uppsala.
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The Castle Gripsholm.
The village of Mariefred.
