Mörtsjön

Mörtsjön
Coordinates	59°12′50″N 18°01′54″E / 59.21389°N 18.03167°E / 59.21389; 18.03167Coordinates: 59°12′50″N 18°01′54″E / 59.21389°N 18.03167°E / 59.21389; 18.03167
Primary outflows	Orlången
Catchment area	1.3 km²
Basin countries	Sweden
Surface area	14.9 ha
Average depth	1.9 m
Max. depth	2.3 m
Water volume	281,000 m³
Residence time	< 1 year
Shore length1	2,100 m
Surface elevation	22.78 m
Settlements	Huddinge
References	[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Mörtsjön (Swedish for "Roach Lake") is a small lake in Huddinge Municipality, south of Stockholm in Sweden. Part of the Orlången Nature Reserve, Mörtsjön is also one of the smaller lakes of the Tyresån Lake System,

Catchment area

Prince Eugen painted some of his well-known romantic landscapes by the lake in the late 19th century^[2] The homestead Charlottendal on the north-eastern corner of the lake is surrounded by old agricultural lands where inorganic fertilisers and pesticides have never been used, and, as a consequence, contains many rare species, such as Common Rockrose, Dithering-grass, Scarlet Waxy Cap. The lush landscape around the lake makes it popular for walking, bathing, fishing, and other open-air activities.^[3]

Environmental impact

The shallow lake is eutrophic. Levels of phosphorus are relatively high, while levels of nitrogen are normal. There are very few human structures in the catchment area, why most of nutrients reaching the lake stems from the surrounding forests. Clearfelling in the end of the 1970s caused increased levels of nitrogen in the lake over the following years and ensuing fish kill probably caused by algal bloom. The shallowness of the lake still tends to cause a shortage of oxygen, which during winters can suffocate fishes.^[3]

Flora and fauna

an inventory of aquatic plants in 1998 resulted in the following list: Reed, Club-rush, Narrow-leafed Cattail, Water Horsetail, Wood Club-rush, Greater Spearwort, Yellow Iris, Water Hemlock, Water-plantain, Marsh Cinquefoil, Marsh-bedstraw, Bog-bean, Yellow Water-lily, White Water-lily, Broad-leaved Pondweed, Curled Pondweed, Bladderwort, and Fontinalis Moss.^[3]

The lake is a natural habitat for Northern Pike, Perch, Roach, Rudd, Tench, and Crucian Carp. More than 100 individual Mirror Carps and Scale Carps were introduced in 1993. Crayfish plague struck the lake in 1979, but since Signal Crayfish has been introduced.^[3]

Common birds are Mallard, Goldeneye, and Gull, while Heron, Merganser, and Osprey are regularly seek food by the lake. Where Grey Willow, Goat Willow. Aspen, and Alder are standing by the shores of the lake, Long-tailed Tit and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker are present. Other rare species frequently visits the lake, for example the Black-throated Diver.^[3]

Mammals found by the lake include: Mink, several bats such as Northern Bat, Common Noctule, Soprano Pipistrelle, and Whiskered Bat. Additionally, some of the species of amphibians and dragonflies common in the Stockholm area are also present by the lake.^[3]

See also

• Geography of Stockholm

Notes

1. ^ Huddinge Municipality, Mörtsjön, PDF
2. ^ Two examples are still hanging at the Waldemarsudde museum. See links below.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Huddinge Municipality, Mörtsjön, site

References

• "Mörtsjön" (in Swedish). Huddinge Municipality. http://www.natur.huddinge.se/pdf/sjoar/mortsjon.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-23.  (Fact sheet and bathymetric map)
• "Mörtsjön" (in Swedish). Huddinge Municipality. http://www.natur.huddinge.se/sjoar/mortsjon/mortsjon.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-23. 
• "Våren, 1891" (in Swedish). Waldemarsudde. http://www.waldemarsudde.se/bb_e_varen.html. Retrieved 2008-02-23. ^{[dead link]}
• "Regnväder, Balingsta 1891" (in Swedish). Waldemarsudde. http://www.waldemarsudde.se/bb_e_balingsta.html. Retrieved 2008-02-23. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• "Map of Mörtsjön and the surrounding area" (in Swedish). Huddinge Municipality. http://www.natur.huddinge.se/kartor/balings/balings.gif. Retrieved 2008-02-23.