Vätter, Lake

Vätter, Lake

Swedish Vättern, 

      lake in south-central Sweden, southeast of Lake Väner (Väner, Lake) between the administrative län (counties) of Västra Götaland and Östergötland and north of the traditional landskap (province) of Småland. With a length of 81 miles (130 km), a breadth of about 19 miles (31 km), and an area of 738 square miles (1,912 square km), it is Sweden's second largest lake, though only one-third the size of Lake Väner. It has a maximum depth of 420 feet (130 metres) and a surface 289 feet (89 metres) above sea level. The lake, known for its dangerous currents, drains eastward through the Motala River into the Baltic Sea.

      Lake Vätter is bounded by cliffs to the east and west; there are few harbours, and Vising Island (Visingsö), with an area of 9.5 square miles (24.5 square km), is one of the few islands. The region around the lake developed after 1832 with the opening of the Göta Canal, which uses the lake and continues on to Stockholm at Motala, on the northeastern shore. Jönköping, at the southern end, is the largest town on the lake. Tourism is important at Vadstena, on the eastern shore south of Motala, with St. Bridget's Convent (c. 1383); Kloster Kyrkan (Convent Church; 1395–1424), also known as the Blue Church from its bluish-gray limestone; and the 16th-century castle of King Gustav I Vasa. On the western shore, Hjo developed as a spa in the late 18th century and still thrives as a lakeside resort.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • lake — lake1 /layk/, n. 1. a body of fresh or salt water of considerable size, surrounded by land. 2. any similar body or pool of other liquid, as oil. 3. (go) jump in the lake, (used as an exclamation of dismissal or impatience.) [bef. 1000; ME lak(e) …   Universalium

  • Lake — /layk/, n. Simon, 1866 1945, U.S. engineer and naval architect. * * * I Relatively large body of slow moving or standing water that occupies an inland basin. Lakes are most abundant in high northern latitudes and in mountain regions, particularly …   Universalium

  • Vätter — [vet′tərnvet′ər] Lake lake in SC Sweden: 733 sq mi (1,898 sq km): Swed. name Vättern [vet′tərn] …   English World dictionary

  • Vätter — /vet teuhrdd/, n. a lake in S Sweden. 80 mi. (130 km) long; 733 sq. mi. (1900 sq. km). Also, Vättern /vet teuhrddn/, Vetter. * * * vattˈer noun • • • Main Entry: ↑vat * * * vatter, ir, yr obs. Sc. ff. water …   Useful english dictionary

  • Vätter-See — Vättern Karte des Vättern Geographische Lage: Schweden Städte am Ufer: Jönköping …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Vätter — /vet teuhrdd/, n. a lake in S Sweden. 80 mi. (130 km) long; 733 sq. mi. (1900 sq. km). Also, Vättern /vet teuhrddn/, Vetter. * * * …   Universalium

  • Sweden — /sweed n/, n. a kingdom in N Europe, in the E part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. 8,946,193; 173,732 sq. mi. (449,964 sq. km). Cap.: Stockholm. Swedish, Sverige. * * * Sweden Introduction Sweden Background: A military power during the 17th… …   Universalium

  • Göta Canal — ▪ canal, Sweden Swedish  Göta Kanal   artificial waterway (canals and inland waterways) that crosses southern Sweden to connect Lake Vänern (Väner, Lake) with the Baltic Sea. For most of its course, the canal passes through lakes, providing… …   Universalium

  • Västra Götaland — ▪ county, Sweden       län (county), southwestern Sweden. It was created in 1998 by the amalgamation of the counties of Älvsborg, Göteborg och Bohus, and Skaraborg. The capital is Göteborg, Sweden s major port and second largest city.… …   Universalium

  • Småland — ▪ province, Sweden        landskap (province), southern Sweden, extending from the Baltic Sea on the east to the provinces of Halland and Västergötland on the west and from Östergötland on the north to …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”