Storsjön, Lake body in Jämtland, Sweden
Storsjön is a lake in Jämtland with an area of 458 square kilometres, making it Sweden's fifth largest lake. Its open central basin, Flaket, is bounded by Rödön, Frösön, Andersön, Norderön, Verkön, the Utö islands and Hammarnäset, and the lake branches into long bays such as Myrviken, Bergsviken and Brunfloviken. The city of Östersund lies on the east shore opposite Frösön.
Storsjön formed as the last inland ice sheet melted from the west just over 9,000 years ago, when several ice lakes merged into the Central Jämtland ice lake. Once the drainage level at the mouth of the Indalsälven was reached, the lake took its present extent and shape. Its only outlet is Hissmoforsen, where mills and sawmills used the water from the early 1700s and Hissmofors AB began producing electricity in 1889.
The lake's name comes from the Swedish word 'stor,' meaning 'big,' reflecting its importance to the region. Today, it serves as a gathering place for fishing enthusiasts and boaters who use its waters year-round.
The lake is accessible from several settlements along its shores where visitors can easily reach the water. Travelers should prepare for changing conditions, as weather in the region can shift quickly throughout the day.
Storsjön is one of only four Swedish lakes with "allmänt vatten", meaning the open water is open to fishing with hand tackle — rod, pike or similar gear with a line and at most ten hooks — without a boat. The rule is written into the lake's status, not a local custom.
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