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Lake Väner

Swedish Vänern, largest lake in Sweden, 2,181 square miles (5,650 square km) in area, in the southwestern part of the country. The lake is about 90 miles (145 km) long and as much as 348 feet (106 metres) deep, and its surface lies 144 feet (44 metres) above sea level. The lake is fed by numerous rivers (the largest being the Klar), and the lake itself drains westward into the Kattegat (strait) via the Göta River, which is a major source of hydroelectric power. Väner is surrounded by rocky, wooded shores except on the south, where the coast is low and conducive to farming. The lake forms a major link in the Göta Canal, a waterway that crosses Sweden from Göteborg on Sweden's west coast to Stockholm on the east coast. Improvements on the Trollhätte Canal permit seagoing craft entering from the Kattegat to serve such lake ports as Karlstad, Lidköping, Vänersborg, Kristinehamn, Åmal, Säffle, and Mariestad. These towns have important industries, such as tanneries, ironworks, and paper mills. Väner is the third largest lake in Europe, after Ladoga and Onega (both in Russia).

For centuries shipping on Lake Vanern has been of
vital importance to regional industry. The link between Lake Vanern and the North Sea has paved the way
for the economical and practical transport of goods
all over the world.
Over the years collaboration between the ports on
Lake Vanern has been extended in order to better satisfy market needs. Over time, they have coordinated their activities in order to offer complete transport and logistics solutions. In 1994, the ports pooled their resources in a single company.