Ivö Lake

Ivö Lake
Location Scania
Coordinates 56°5′N 14°25′E / 56.083°N 14.417°ECoordinates: 56°5′N 14°25′E / 56.083°N 14.417°E
Basin countries Sweden
Surface area 55 km²
Max. depth 50 m
Islands Ivö Island

Ivö Lake (Swedish: Ivösjön) is the largest and deepest lake of Skåne, Sweden, located in the municipalities of Kristianstad and Bromölla in the northeastern part of Skåne County. It covers an area of just under 55 km², with a maximum depth of 50 meters. The lake is the richest in fish species in Sweden, including pike, salmon, burbot, vendace, bream, ide, ruffe, minnow, rudd, and spined loach, rare for this area, which has prompted biodiversity conservation efforts and attention from among others EU Natura 2000. 25-30 different species are regularly caught in the lake. It is very well known among fishing enthusiasts, not only in Sweden but in many countries in Europe.

A lake with numerous islands and sheltered bays, it has become a popular tourist destination for sightseeing as well as fishing. It is surrounded by hills with deciduous forests and valleys with fertile soil, and is located in a climate zone suitable for fruit tree cultivation. The area is one of Scania's fruit districts.

One of the larger islands in the lake, Ivö Island, has a permanent, year-round population. A free, cable-driven car ferry operates a regular scheduled service to the island from the village Barum on the mainland. On the island are the ruins of Anders Sunesøn's castle Ivöhus. Sunesøn, a Danish archbishop of Lund, died in Ivöhus in 1228.

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