Lake Tingstäde

Lake Tingstäde is a lake next to Tingstäde in the central northern part of Gotland, Sweden. It is the second biggest lake on Gotland, after Lake Bästeträsk. The surface of the lake is 44.1 m (145 ft) above sea level.

Lake Tingstäde
Tingstäde träsk (Swedish)
Lake Tingstäde
Location	Tingstäde socken, Gotland
Coordinates	57.72823°N 18.63078°E / 57.72823; 18.63078
Type	freshwater lake
Primary outflows	Gothemsån-Snoderåns coastal areas
Basin countries	Sweden
Surface area	4.68 km2 (1.81 sq mi)[1]
Average depth	0.7 m (2.3 ft)[1]
Max. depth	1.7 m (5.6 ft)[1]
Water volume	3,243,000 m3 (114,500,000 cu ft)[1]
Shore length1	104 km (65 mi)[2]
Surface elevation	44.1 m (145 ft)[2]
Frozen	winter
Settlements	Tingstäde
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The lake was used as a landing site for seaplanes during the interwar period, such as the first regular passenger planes between Gotland and mainland Sweden 1933–39,^[3] and a stopover on the Stockholm/Lindarängen - Danzig line, serviced by the AB Aerotransport in 1925–26.^[4]

History

During the 1120s, a 170 by 170 m (560 by 560 ft) square timber platform was built in the middle of the lake. On the platform was a number of closely built wooden houses. The remnants of this construction, known as the Bulverket, are still present on the bottom of the lake. It is still not known why the bulwark was built.^[5]

The name Tingstäde is probably related to the thing that was located north of the Tingstäde Church close by the lake.^[6] The word träsk is an old Gutnish word for 'lake'.^[7]

Biology

Lake Tingstäde is one of Gotland's most biologically diverse lakes. It contains pike, perch, ruffe, roach, bleak, tench, rudd and carp.^[8] There are also crayfish in the lake.^[9]