Mälaren
| Mälaren | |
|---|---|
Lake Mälaren at dusk.
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| Location | Sweden |
| Coordinates | 59°30′N 17°12′E / 59.500°N 17.200°ECoordinates: 59°30′N 17°12′E / 59.500°N 17.200°E |
| Basin countries | Sweden |
| Surface area | 1,140 km2 (440 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Max. depth | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Water volume | 14 km3 (11,000,000 acre·ft) |
| Islands | Selaön, Svartsjölandet (see list) |
Mälaren (Swedish: [ˈmɛːlarɛn]), historically referred to as Lake Malar in English, is the third-largest freshwater lake in Sweden (after Vänern and Vättern). Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west. The lake drains, from south-west to north-east, into the Baltic Sea through the Södertälje Canal, Hammarbyslussen, Karl Johansslussen and Norrström. The easternmost bay of Mälaren, in central , 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 Viking Age settlements Birka on the island of Björkö and Hovgården on the neighbouring island Adelsö have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, as has Drottningholm Palace on the island of Lovön. The barrow of Björn Ironside is on the island of Munsö, within the lake.
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Wikipedia