Torsö Explained

Torsö
Local Name:-->
Nickname:-->
Coordinates:58.8017°N 13.8261°W
Location:Vänern
Area Km2:62.03
Country:Sweden
Country Admin Divisions Title:Province
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:County
Country Admin Divisions 1:Västra Götaland
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:Municipality
Country Admin Divisions 2:Mariestad

Torsö (Thor's Island[1]) is the biggest island of the lake Vänern, area 62.03 km2. Torsö is located in Mariestad Municipality. Torsö formerly consisted of two islands (Torsö and Fågelö), but around 1930 the water in between was pumped out, and the former lakebed is now used for growing crops.

Torsö has around 550 families living year round, and around thrice that amount during summers. In 1994 a bridge, "Torsöbron", was opened between the mainland and the island. It is around 900 m long.

Due to the size of lake Vänern, the island has a more maritime climate (with milder winters) and more sun hours compared to the mainland.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Mats Wahlberg, red (2003). Svenskt ortnamnslexikon. Uppsala: Institutet för språk och folkminnen. Libris 8998039.
  2. Web site: SMHI. Sveriges landskapsklimat [climate of the Swedish landscapes]]. SMHI.