Bjurälven, Nature reserve in Jämtland, Sweden
Bjurälven is a nature reserve in Jämtland where a river disappears underground into limestone caves for several kilometers before emerging again downstream. The subterranean passage creates a dramatic landscape with sinkholes and underground waterways carved through the bedrock.
Systematic exploration began in 1979 when a cave researcher identified a major underwater entrance at the bottom of Dolinsjön lake. Regular expeditions have since documented and studied the underground cave network.
The Swedish Speleological Society conducts annual winter expeditions to map and document the extensive underwater cave network within the reserve.
The area is challenging to access, particularly in winter when snow covers the terrain and temperatures drop sharply. Visitors should come prepared with warm clothing and sturdy footwear suited to difficult ground conditions.
The area contains around three hundred sinkholes formed by natural limestone dissolution processes. The largest, called Snödolinen, holds snow even through the summer months.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
