Spånnsjön
Axvall
Just outside Axvall, on the road toward Norra Lundby, the landscape has changed. After 123 years, Spånnsjön has been brought back to life. In an area that until recently was wet and overgrown with scrub, there now lies a beautiful, glimmering lake.
After 123 years as overgrown marshland, the lake between Axvall and Norra Lundby reappeared in 2015. Now Spånnsjön is a natural purification plant and a lovely little bird lake where black-headed gulls squawk in the summer.
Spånnsjön has the same history as its big brother Hornborgasjön. At the end of the 19th century, farmers dug ditches to get rid of the water and gain more agricultural land. This was only partially successful, and the middle of the old lake became a swampy thicket. Until the landowners decided to build a dam and restore the former water level.
The birds immediately found the new sparkling surface. After just a couple of weeks, a pair of white-eyed divers, a southeastern European species that was visiting Sweden temporarily in 2015, were spotted. Black-headed gulls have formed a colony on the islands in the lake, and goldeneyes, common terns, redshanks, grey-headed grebes, yellow wagtails and many others have also made themselves at home. In spring and autumn, you can see many different wading birds resting here during their long migration.
In addition to being a source of joy for small creatures, fish, and birds, the new-old lake also purifies the water. Nutrient-rich water flows into Lake Spånnsjön from the agricultural land to the east, and some of these nutrients are captured here. The water that flows on the other side of the lake becomes clearer, which is good news for swimmers in Lake Vingsjön.
Spånnsjön may not be the easiest option for families with children who just want to have a picnic in the countryside. There is no clear hiking trail here, but it is possible to walk around the lake, and birdwatchers can entertain themselves for hours. In April, you can see pike and trout jumping in the small rapids at the outlet.