EIVEES AND LAKES. 75 



out these the navigation of the Wener would be entirely 

 closed. 



There is also a magnificent fall on the Dal River, called 

 Elf Karleby. But here nature reigns paramount, and man 

 has not yet interfered to surmount this obstruction. Except 

 in the very north, however, the waterfalls on the Swedish 

 rivers have little grandeur, and serve only as obstructions 

 to the navigation. 



It has been observed that the Swedish rivers are far 

 less winding in their courses than those of other countries. 



When we consider that the lakes and rivers occupy at 

 least one- eighth part of the surface of the whole land, we 

 are not surprised at the number of inland lakes which are 

 met with here. In one parish of Norrland, there are said 

 to be more lakes than days in the year. Many, however, 

 are of inconsiderable size, but some the Wener, Wetter, 

 Malar, Siljan are magnificent sheets of water. 



The Wener, which lies about 145 feet above the surface 

 of the sea, is about fourteen Swedish miles long and seven 

 broad, and covers an area of forty- eight Swedish square miles. 

 Its greatest depth is 302 feet. 



The next in size -is the Wetter, which lies parallel to 

 the Wener on the south-eastern coast. Its length is 

 fifteen Swedish miles, its breadth four, and it covers an 

 area of seventeen Swedish square miles. It is the deepest 

 lake in Sweden, viz., 420 feet. The bottom of this lake is 

 of a different formation to that of the Wener, and its fish 

 and Crustacea are very dissimilar. 



The Malar, on the east end of which Stockholm stands, 

 is twelve Swedish miles long, eight and a half broad, and it 

 is computed that 1300 little islands are scattered over its 

 surface. 



You scarcely ever see a gentleman's estate, especially in 

 the middle or north of Sweden, where the dwelling house 

 is not situated either near a river or a lake, which not only 

 adds much to the beauty of the scenery, but is of no little 

 value in the household economy, from the plentiful supply 

 of fish which it provides. It is true, they are generally of 



