TÃ¥kern

Low water depth, bird of paradise

Tåkern is one of the most famous bird lakes in Sweden. It is located in the Swedish province of Östergötland County or the historical province of Östergötland, about ten kilometers south of the town of Vadstena. He is one of the Swedish Ramsargebieten.

History

Its present appearance with the low water level and the swampy shores of the lake was only after attempts have been made in the years 1842-1844 by measures of land reclamation, the lake completely dry out and win so fertile arable and pasture land. The average lake water level it was then lowered from 2.50 meters to 0.80 meters and emerged on its banks thus about 1,600 acres of arable and pasture, and 500 acres of marshland.

Bird Paradise

The now around 44 square kilometers lake is surrounded by extensive wetlands. It is striking, especially the low water depth, on average 0.6 m. In years with dry summers will reduce its size and the water depth decreases. It also freezes by the cold winters completely. He is a bird paradise, the nature reserve is also under the Natura 2000 project today. Lakeside approximately 260 bird species have been observed, which makes him the richest bird area in Sweden.

Bird stations with observation towers there are in Hov, Svälinge, Väversunda and Glänås. An exhibition on the lake there are in the town of Vadstena.