Bäl

Bäl is a populated area, a socken (not to be confused with parish), on the Swedish island of Gotland.^[3] It comprises the same area as the administrative Bäl District, established on 1 January 2016.^[4]

Bäl
Bäl Church
Bäl
Coordinates: 57°38′41″N 18°37′58″E
Country	Sweden
Province	Gotland
County	Gotland County
Municipality	Gotland Municipality
Area [1]
• Total	24.87 km2 (9.60 sq mi)
Population  (2014)[2]
• Total	114
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Geography

Bäl is the name of the larger area, Bäl socken as well as the Bäl district, surrounding the small village of Gute where the medieval Bäl Church,^[5] is located. Gute is sometimes referred to as Bäl, Bäl kyrkby or Bäls kyrkby Gute. It is situated in the northeast part of Gotland.^[6]

As of 2019^[update], Bäl Church belongs to Väskinde parish in Norra Gotlands pastorat, along with the churches in Väskinde, Fole, Lokrume, Hejnum and Bro.^[7][8]

One of the asteroids in the asteroid belt, 8678 Bäl, is named after this place.^[9]