Södermanland, Historical province in east-central Sweden
Södermanland is a province in east-central Sweden stretching between Stockholm and Östergötland, covering fertile plains, many lakes, and a coastline along the Baltic Sea. The landscape shows gentle hills with forests, open fields, and small islands along the archipelago.
In June 1523, the coronation of Gustav Vasa took place in Strängnäs Cathedral, marking a turning point for Swedish independence from Denmark. The region played an important role already during the Viking Age, as shown by many runestones from the 6th to the 11th century.
The name comes from Old Norse and means southern land, referring to its position below Lake Mälaren. Today, locals maintain the tradition of waterfront summer cottages, where families from nearby cities spend their weekends.
The province is easily reached via the main highways E4 and E20, which run through the region and connect different towns. Hiking trails like Sörmlandsleden offer marked routes through forests and along lakes for multi-day trips.
The Södertälje Canal connects Lake Mälaren to the Baltic Sea since 1819, allowing large ships to pass into the interior. Today, around 40,000 vessels use this waterway each year, including cargo ships and leisure boats.
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