Husgärdessjön

The type of landscape this gave rise to is known as a ridge landscape, from the Scottish word came, which means ridge. A ridge landscape is a hilly landscape of hills, ridges and depressions with deep lakes, up to 26 meters. Other depressions are now wetlands (ranging from poor marshes and bogs to extremely rich fens). The Valle area is situated along the Billingen mountain, which resisted the forces of the inland ice and glacial rivers thanks to its ‘cap’ of volcanic rock, typical of the so-called plateau mountains.

Large blocks of inland ice, along with the sediment that accumulated around them, formed so-called dead-ice pits when the ice blocks melted. Even today, traces of these can be seen in Valle. Several beautiful dead-ice pits can be found in the nearby nature reserve Ökull-Borregården. Some of the smaller round lakes may have been formed in this way.

The drainage of the Baltic Ice Lake.

Another phenomenon that has also contributed to the landscape in Valle is the so-called drainage of the Baltic Ice Lake. Vast amounts of meltwater that had accumulated in the area east of what we now call the Baltic Sea were then rapidly emptied into the ocean through openings formed between the ice and the higher terrain to the south. When the water gushed out over this area between Lake Vänern and Lake Vättern, the landscape was shaped into what we see here today.

When the ice sheet and the sea retreated, they left behind a lush landscape with rich animal and plant life, allowing people to settle here almost 10,000 years ago, as evidenced by a number of ancient remains.

Connected lake system.

Valle’s lakes are said to be as numerous as there are days in the year. While this is probably a bit of an exaggeration, if you look at a map of the area, you can see why the phrase came about. In the past, there were probably even more smaller lakes, while the larger Vallesjöarna were more continuous than they are today after agriculture led to land being drained. The shallow Hornborgasjön was practically gone before the restoration work of it began in the late 1980s. Today, there are about 40 lakes in the Valle area, and Husgärdessjön is among the largest.

The unique nature in the Valle area has made them a national interest for nature conservation and outdoor recreation and there are currently 8 nature reserves in the area (see map of nature reserves). Lycke-Lilla Höjen (L, outside the map), Jättadalen-Öglunda grotta (J), Eahagen/Öglunda ängar (E), Torp (T) and Höjentorp-Drottningkullen (H) have been nature reserves since 1975. Gullakrokssjöarna (Outside the map, G) became a nature reserve in 1999, while the nature reserves Ökull-Borregården (Ö) (here next to Valle Camping and Husgärdessjön) and Bockaskedeåsen-Toran (B, the main part outside the map) were established in 2007. The Valle area is considered to have particularly favorable conditions for enriching experiences in natural and/or cultural environments, as well as for outdoor activities, thus providing enriching experiences.

Inflow and outflow.

The water in Husgärdessjön is replenished within the course of 1-2 months. The lakes in the Valle area are groundwater lakes that receive water inflow from streams flowing down from Billingen. Husgärdessjön primarily receives water inflow through a canal from Skärvalången via Vagnsjön.

The water level in the lake system, including Husgärdessjön, is regulated at Ökulls kvarn south of Husgärdessjön. The outlet flows through Ökulls kvarn and further into a canal to the newly restored Spånnsjön, then continuing to Vingsjön, which eventually flows into Hornborgasjön. Eventually, the water from the Vallesjöarna lakes reaches Lake Vänern and the Göta River before flowing into the sea.

Husgärdessjön is also connected to the nearby Ökullasjön through a canal.

Piled jetty

Valle Camping has chosen to construct piled jetties. Pålade bryggor släpper ner mer ljus till livet under bryggorna. Floating jetties create large areas with shaded bottoms, which worsens the conditions for many animals and plants. Perhaps you may notice that some of the poles are slanted, and every year, it is a challenge to restore and adjust the jetties after the ravages of the ice.

The Valle area has an exceptional and diverse flora. Here, we have selected some plants that you may encounter during your visit to Husgärdessjön at Valle Camping.

Charophytes (Stoneworts, Chara)

An example of a species that thrives in the nutrient-poor environment and clear water is benthic charophytes or stoneworts.

Stoneworts are regularly built with candelabra-like whorls of branches at each node and long distances between each nodal branch. Stoneworts do not have roots; instead, they attach themselves to the substrate using transparent structures called rhizoids. When growing in calm, calcareous water like here in Husgärdessjön, a crust of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) forms on the stem and branches, resembling a type of coral. This process is known as encrustation. In English, the group of plants is called “stoneworts” or “stonewort algae.”

The crust of calcium carbonate makes the algae appear grayish and feel stiff to touch or walk on. Indeed, it may appear and feel like a lifeless plant, but that’s how it grows in calcareous lakes. Yes, it forms large mats or stone-like bushes that can cover the bottom of the lake. If the populations are exposed above the water surface, the plant and the calcareous material can dry out and form white mats on the water surface. Indeed, one could almost say that the calcareous encrusted stoneworts form Valle’s coral reefs :).

In Sweden, there are 34 species of stoneworts, of which 6 are considered threatened and listed in the Swedish Red List. Acidification and eutrophication are believed to be the reasons behind the species’ endangerment, although the situation for the species has improved. Conversely, one can say that charophytes are good indicators of a water body that is not suffering from eutrophication.

In Lake Husgärdessjön, during a survey, six different species of charophytes were found: Rough Stonewort (Chara aspera), Common Stonewort (Chara globularis), Bristly Stonewort (Chara hispida), Chara papillosa (Chara papillosa), Woolly Stonewort (Chara tomentosa), and Branched Stonewort (Chara virgata). At the dock, you probably see the Bristly Stonewort (Chara hispida). Today, all these species are considered to be viable or thriving.

Other plants in Husgärdessjön

Of course, there are plenty of other plants that you can find in and around the lake.

Low plants in shallow water, on the shore and on land.

Plants that you can find right at the edge of the beach, in shallow water or on land are…

greater spearwort ( Ranunculus lingua), Cursed Buttercup ( Ranunculus sceleratus), Bittersweet Nightshade ( Solanum dulcamara, poisonous), Water Plantain ( Alisma plantago-aquatica), Three-lobed Beggarticks ( Bidens tripartita), Flowering Rush ( Butomus umbellatus), Water Hemlock ( Cicuta virosa), Gypsywort ( Lycopus europeus), Tufted Loosestrife ( Lysimachia thyrsiflora), Purple Loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria), Whorled Mint ( Mentha x verticillata), Water Pepper ( Persicaria hydropiper),Unbranched Bur-reed (Sparganium emersum) and leafy spurge(Utricularia sp.). Click on the images below to read more about the plants and see more images in the species database.

Higher plants on the shoreline

Some majestic plants that grow both along the shoreline and extend well above the water surface in large stands are common reed or bulrush (Phragmites australis), bulrush (Shoenoplectus lacustris), and narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia).

On the surface of the water

On the water surface outside the reed edges, you can find the yellow water lily (Nuphar lutea).

Below the water surface

Beneath the clear water, various plants thrive, including hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum), Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis), whorled water-milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum), spiked water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), shining pondweed (Potamogeton lucens), water moss (Fontinalis), and perfoliate pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus).

Invasive Species

Unfortunately, the cottage area that existed in the vicinity during the mid-1900s has led to the establishment of some invasive species in the area. We are currently working in various ways to eradicate them, but this effort will take a long time. Be careful not to pick invasive species that can then be spread by plant parts or seeds. This is the case, for example, with lupine, giant balsam fir and parkslide. You can read about the most common invasive species and how to recognize them on the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s website.

They live at the bottom and are filter-feeders. Buried in the sediment, their posterior end faces upwards, and their siphons (breathing tubes) are open towards the water. Indeed, several of these mussel species can live for a relatively long time, and their annual shell growth allows us to determine their age, much like counting the rings on a tree. By examining the growth rings on the mussel shells, scientists can estimate the age of the mussels and gain valuable insights into their life history and the environmental conditions they have experienced over the years. This information is essential for understanding the population dynamics and conservation status of these mussels in the Vallesjöarna lakes and beyond.

The mussel population in Lake Husgärdes is substantial, and you can likely spot a few from the dock. During surveys, three species have been found: the common pond mussel (Anodonta anatina), the swollen river mussel (Unio tumidus), and the swan mussel (Anodonta cygnea).

The common pond mussel is recognizable by its 7-10 cm large rhombic to egg-shaped yellow to yellow-green shell with vivid green hues. It is almost always a hermaphrodite and requires host fish for its larvae.

Fish

In Husgärdessjön there are, among others, perch (Perca fluviatilis), pike (Esox lucius), bream (Abramis brama), roach (Rutilus rutilus), cormorant (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and tench (Tinca tinca).

During the summer, you often see small perch swimming under the dock. They are recognized by their striped appearance and the red fins on their undersides. The species can reach up to 35 cm in length (with some records reaching up to 50 cm), but most are considerably smaller. The colors of perch vary depending on their living environment. Compared to relatives living in darker habitats, the perch in the lake are relatively light in color. You might already know that perch have black bands on their bodies, but did you know that no two perch have the same patterning?

Birds

The Valle area boasts rich birdlife, and Hornboga Lake is just a few kilometers away as the crow flies. Husgärdessjön is a little too deep to attract so many cranes, but here you can read more about the spectacular crane dance that takes place every spring at Hornborgasjön, which is downstream of Husgärdessjön. Husgärdessjön is visited by grebes, herons and swans.

Mammals

If you take a nighttime dip and swim in the lake, you are likely to encounter some of the bats that live around the area. They often swoop by, hunting for insects on the water surface.

The Valle area is considered to have Sweden’s most diverse bat fauna north of Skåne. Bats are the most species-rich group of mammals in Sweden. With 19 bat species found here, constituting a quarter of all mammal species in the country (75 species). Over the years, 14 of these bat species have been identified in the Valle area through repeated recordings of bat ultrasonic calls at several locations in the area.

The most common species in Valle include the water bat (Myotis daubentonii), the pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), the greater brown bat (Nyctalus noctula) and the northern bat (Eptesicus nilssonii).

Other Animals

Apart from what we have mentioned, there are, of course, many other animals in and around the lake. These include a diverse insect fauna, amphibians, and crustaceans, as well as larger mammals that occasionally visit the lake, such as deer and moose. Foxes, badgers, and hares can also be found in the area. Additionally, beavers have made their home in the lake, and occasionally, smaller martens pay a visit to the lakeshore.