Fyledalen, Nature reserve in Skåne County, Sweden.
Fyledalen is a 20 km long, several hundred metres wide and up to 50 m deep valley on the border of the Sjöbo, Ystad and Tomelilla municipalities in Skåne. The Fyleån river runs along its bottom, and the slopes carry erosion terraces, drainage valleys and diabase dykes from the Quaternary period. The 853-hectare nature reserve, established in 2015, covers the valley, with Benestads backar in the southeast and the Fyleverkens sand pit in the northwest.
Fyledalen was formed about 15,000 years ago when an ice lake at the edge of the inland ice emptied northwest through the valley into Vombsänkan. The meltwater cut a 20-kilometre-long, up to 50-metre-deep trough, leaving erosion terraces, drainage valleys and diabase dykes. The Simrishamn railway later ran along part of the valley; its tracks are now used only for rail biking.
Fyledalen draws many birdwatchers throughout the year, and the valley is especially active during migration seasons when species stop to rest along the river. The open meadows and forest edges make it easy to spot birds without needing to go far from the main paths.
Several walking trails cross the reserve, including a circular path that starts from a parking area and passes through forest and up to viewpoints such as Stenby Backe. Sturdy footwear is a good idea, as some sections can become muddy after rain.
Fyledalen is home to 17 of Sweden's 19 bat species, a concentration found in very few places across the country. This makes the valley a reference site for bat researchers and one of the best places in Sweden to observe these animals in the wild.
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