Bästeträsk

Bästeträsk is the largest lake on Gotland, covering an area of 705 hectares (7 square kilometers). Despite its size, the lake is quite shallow, with a maximum depth of only 4.5 meters, and most of it is even shallower. The surrounding landscape is a mix of forest and marshland. While swimming is best on the northern side of the lake, we recommend heading to the nearby Blue Lagoon, just across the road, for a more pleasant experience.

Bästeträsk Nature Reserve is one of the largest on Gotland, covering not only the 665-hectare lake Bästeträsk (Gotland’s largest lake!) but also more than 800 hectares of surrounding forest, wetlands, alvar plains, and pebble beaches. In the southwestern part of the reserve, you'll find a smaller area of deciduous forest and meadowland known as Hässleänget.

Despite its size, Bästeträsk is relatively shallow. Its deepest point reaches just 4.5 meters, and most of the lake is significantly shallower. The lake has very little tall water vegetation, but reeds and bulrushes can be found in the southwestern part and north of the islands Storholmen and Lillholmen. The central parts of the lake have a bottom vegetation dominated by charophytes. Fish species in the lake include pike, roach, rudd, tench, perch, whitefish, and the sculpin—the only freshwater population on Gotland. The shores are mostly encircled by a gravel ridge formed by glacial movement, rising 0.5–1 meter high and dotted with large stones. The islands Storholmen and Lillholmen, located in the middle of the lake, are mostly covered by low-growing pine forests.

Hässleänget, covering about 10 hectares, has the character of a deciduous forest dominated by oak and ash. Historically, the entire area was meadowland, and many of the ash trees bear signs of past pollarding. Parts of the area also have abundant hazel. Today, around 4 hectares of the meadow are maintained using traditional methods. In the northern part, the forest is moist, with the characteristics of a swamp forest. Rare species of lichens and wood fungi grow on the ash and oak trees, and this humid forest is home to what is likely Sweden’s largest population of the rare greater whorl snail, a species that thrives in calcareous environments.

The area around Ar is strongly marked by the limestone industry that once thrived here. Ahrs bruk was established in 1650 and operated until 1990. Two now water-filled quarries are visible reminders of the limestone quarrying. The northwestern quarry has become a popular swimming spot in summer, known as the "Blue Lagoon." There are also parking facilities and toilets available here.