Hornsjön

BW

The only lake of Öland

The Hornsviken (also Hornssjön ) is the only major lake on the Swedish Baltic island of Öland.

Ecology

Located north-west to the north of the island of Löttorp lake is surrounded by forests. Besides alder dominate mainly oak and pine trees. In the northern part of the lake are some smaller uninhabited, lined by trees and bushes Islands.

On the north shore of the lake there are bigger reeds. The flat eastern shore is sandy. On the bottom of the lake grow stoneworts. Ten fish species are native to the lake. Herons, Caspian tern, osprey, sandpipers, marsh harriers, goldeneye and grebes are encountered species of birds here.

In the marshes surrounding the lake jumping frogs live. The western part of the lake belongs to the nature reserve horn Kungsgård in which twelve of the eighteen domestic in Sweden bat species can be found. In addition to the Barbastelle also Nathusius bat and the pond bat is observed.

History

In the years 1905-1909, the water level of the lake was artificially lowered by one meter. In the southern part of the lake located peat soils were then used for agriculture. However, larger amounts of sand were free due to the lower water level, which formed on the northeastern shore dunes. The engagement of the fish population of the lake and the species richness and species of birds declined significantly.