Dalälven

Location of Dalalven

Confluence of Österdalälven (left) and Västerdal (right)

Dalalven between Avesta and Hedemora

The Dalalven is a river in the historical Swedish provinces of Dalarna, Västmanland, Gastrikland and Uppland.

Geography

The Dalalven formed by the confluence of the Västerdal and Österdalälven. In the lower reaches before the Dalalven flowing into the sea, there are several lakes, of which the Färnebofjärden forms the center of a National Park. The river system of the Dalalven is 542 kilometers, the longest opening out into the sea in Sweden. The longest not opening out into the sea is the Klarälven.

The Dalalven dehydrated with its source and tributaries an area of about 30,000 km ². In it are numerous factories and mines ( Bergslagen ), which have been used since the Middle Ages. The Dalalven is therefore the Swedish river which leads to the Baltic Sea on the most pollutants (especially heavy metals, cadmium and zinc from mining ).