Sommen
Encyclopedia
Sommen is a Swedish
lake
. Its area is 132 km² and its greatest depth is 60 m.(although deeper places are found every year) The lake is located in southern Sweden
, and is bounded by the provinces
of Östergötland
and Småland
.
The lake is a clear-water lake, with a visibility of 9–11 m in the eastern parts of the lake. This makes Sommen one of the greatest clear-water lakes in Sweden.
According to tradition Sommen has 365 islands, one for each day of the year. The actual number is around 350.
Legend has it that the lake was created by an ancient cow "Sommakoa". The wizard who owned her tried to chain her to a fence to calm her fits of anger. Sommakoa broke lose from her chain, stomped her hoof very hard into the ground and then ran off. The foot print filled with water creating the lake.
There is an annual bicycle race around the lake every May called Sommen Runt (around Sommen)
There is a very active boating culture on Lake Sommen. With several regattas organized each year the longest is called Sommen Runt (Around Sommen) and takes two days and one night to complete as the route follows the unusual shape of the lake.
Sommen is also the home lake of one of Swedens last woodfueled steamboats; the S/S Boxholm II.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
. Its area is 132 km² and its greatest depth is 60 m.(although deeper places are found every year) The lake is located in southern Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and is bounded by the provinces
Provinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
of Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
and Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
.
The lake is a clear-water lake, with a visibility of 9–11 m in the eastern parts of the lake. This makes Sommen one of the greatest clear-water lakes in Sweden.
According to tradition Sommen has 365 islands, one for each day of the year. The actual number is around 350.
Legend has it that the lake was created by an ancient cow "Sommakoa". The wizard who owned her tried to chain her to a fence to calm her fits of anger. Sommakoa broke lose from her chain, stomped her hoof very hard into the ground and then ran off. The foot print filled with water creating the lake.
There is an annual bicycle race around the lake every May called Sommen Runt (around Sommen)
There is a very active boating culture on Lake Sommen. With several regattas organized each year the longest is called Sommen Runt (Around Sommen) and takes two days and one night to complete as the route follows the unusual shape of the lake.
Sommen is also the home lake of one of Swedens last woodfueled steamboats; the S/S Boxholm II.