Lake Esrum

Esrum Sø
Lake Esrum
Location	Zealand
Coordinates	56°00′14″N 12°22′50″E / 56.00389°N 12.38056°E / 56.00389; 12.38056Coordinates: 56°00′14″N 12°22′50″E / 56.00389°N 12.38056°E / 56.00389; 12.38056
Type	kettle hole (probably)
Primary inflows	Fønstrup Bæk,[1] several smaller streams, groundwater
Primary outflows	Esrum Å
Catchment area	62 km²
Max. length	8.4 km
Surface area	17.3 km²
Average depth	13.5 m
Max. depth	22.3 m
Water volume	233 mill. m³
Residence time	12.7 years
Surface elevation	Below 9.38 m in the summer. Below 9.48 m in the winter.
Settlements	Fredensborg, Hillerød

Lake Esrum (Danish: Esrum Sø) is the largest lake in Denmark by water volume and the second-largest lake by surface area, after lake Arresø. It is situated in the region of Hovedstaden, on the island of Zealand.

The surface area of the lake is 17 km² and the maximum depth is 22 m. The length from north to south is 8.4 km. On the western shore is the Gribskov forest and on the eastern shores is the Fredensborg Castle.

Biology

The water quality of lake Esrum is considered good.

Since 2002, there have been a few incidences of trematoda plaguing swimmers in the summertime every year. The trematodes are a natural part of lake Esrums' aquatic life.

Fish

Lake Esrum have a large population of European perch and Northern pike. Other species includes European eel, ruffe, bream, roach, tench and bleak. A smaller population of brown trout is living here, having adapted to the freshwater.

The professional fishing for eel, was previously substantial, but in 1997 the annual catch had fallen to 388 kg from a mere 14 tons and nowadays, the lake is exclusively fished by anglers.

Birds

The birdlife at the lake is varied. The common goldeneye was formerly a rare breeding bird in Denmark, but after a determined effort involving setting up artificial nests, the species is almost a signature of lake Esrum. Other common birds here includes Eurasian coot, mallard, tufted duck, great crested grebe and mute swan. The reed beds along the lake brinks, hold many swan nests and in the southern end, a colony of the great cormorant have found a home, with several hundreds of nests.

Protections

Lake Esrum is part of a larger 7,400 ha Natura 2000 area, comprising Gribskov and a few smaller woodlands nearby. ^[2]

References

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Esrum Sø.

• Esrum Sø Danish Nature Agency (Danish)