Svartån
Svartån in Västmanland County, Sweden is a river that is 91 kilometers long. It passes through the towns of Skultuna and Västerås and has its outlet in Mälaren. The name Västerås derives from the Sueco-Latin term Västra Aros meaning "western outlet."
The river played an important role in the industrial development in this region from the 17th century until the early 20th century as a source for hydropower. Small-scale hydroelectric dams are located in Västerås (the Turbine House and at Falkenberg's Mill), Skerike, and Skultuna, among others. The river also provided power for the many water wheels associated with Skultuna's centuries-old copper foundry Skultuna mässingsbruk.
The river flooded in September 2023 after heavy rain. In Västerås, barriers were built around the river to protect city buildings from flooding.[1] As the situation began to resolve, excess water drained into Mälaren.[2]
Beavers and crayfish live in the river.[3][4]
References
- ^ Dahl, Amanda; Hernvall, William (2023-09-02). "Tågtrafik stoppas på grund av översvämningarna" [Train services suspended due to flooding]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ^ Dahl, Amanda (2023-09-03). "Risk för skred och slukhål efter helgens översvämningar" [Risk of landslides and sinkholes after weekend floods]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ^ Pejryd, Nils (2017-03-15). "Se när bävern tvättar sig i Svartån" [Watch a beaver wash itself in the Svartån River]. SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ^ Blomkvist, Kevin; Vare, Martin (2024-08-06). "Kräftlyckan i Svartån – biter som aldrig förr" [Crayfish luck in Svartån – bites like never before]. Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). Retrieved 2026-02-19.
59°36′04″N 16°32′48″E / 59.6010°N 16.5468°E