Lagan River
Encyclopedia
Lagan is one of four main westcoast rivers in south-western Sweden
besides Göta älv
. It is with 244 kilometers one of the longest rivers in southern Sweden.
It starts in Tahesjön outside Taberg
in the municipality of Jönköping
, flows through Vaggeryd
, Värnamo
and Ljungby
and ends in the town of Mellbystrand
in the municipality of Laholm
. More specifically, it ends in the Bay of Laholm, a part of the strait of Kattegat
.
People have been following the river from the coastal areas since the Viking Age
and settling in its vicinity. Along Lagan was a trading route, the so called Lagastigen, which is now part of the road E4
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
besides Göta älv
Göta älv
The Göta is a river that drains lake Vänern into the Kattegat at the city of Gothenburg on the western coast of Sweden. It is located in Götaland, with the river itself being a site of early Geatish settlement. The length is 93 km. Often the combination of Göta älv and Klarälven is mentioned...
. It is with 244 kilometers one of the longest rivers in southern Sweden.
It starts in Tahesjön outside Taberg
Taberg
Taberg is a locality situated in Jönköping Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 4,223 inhabitants in 2005....
in the municipality of Jönköping
Jönköping Municipality
Jönköping Municipality is a municipality in Jönköping County, southern Sweden. The city Jönköping is the municipal seat. The municipality is situated by the southern end of lake Vättern.-Historical background:...
, flows through Vaggeryd
Vaggeryd
Vaggeryd is a locality situated in Vaggeryd Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden with 4,688 inhabitants in 2005. Together with Skillingaryd it is the seat of the municipality.Vaggeryd is situated about 10 km north of its co-municipal seat Skillingaryd...
, Värnamo
Värnamo
Värnamo is a locality and the seat of Värnamo Municipality, Jönköping County, Sweden, with 18,696 inhabitants in 2010.-History:Värnamo traces its history back to a village in the medieval age; the first written mention of it stems from the 13th century...
and Ljungby
Ljungby, Sweden
Ljungby is a locality and the seat of Ljungby Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden, with 14,810 inhabitants in 2005.Ljungby was originally a köping , which did not become a municipality of its own when the first local government acts took effect in 1863, but retained part of the surrounding rural...
and ends in the town of Mellbystrand
Mellbystrand
Mellbystrand is a locality situated in Laholm Municipality, Halland County, Sweden, with 1,681 inhabitants in 2005.Geographically the village is located south of the estuary of the river Lagan, stretching along the Bay of Laholm....
in the municipality of Laholm
Laholm
Laholm is a locality and the seat of Laholm Municipality, Halland County, Sweden, with 5,835 inhabitants in 2005.Laholm is, despite its small population, for historical reasons often still referred to as a city...
. More specifically, it ends in the Bay of Laholm, a part of the strait of Kattegat
Kattegat
The Kattegat , or Kattegatt is a sea area bounded by the Jutland peninsula and the Straits islands of Denmark on the west and south, and the provinces of Västergötland, Scania, Halland and Bohuslän in Sweden on the east. The Baltic Sea drains into the Kattegat through the Øresund and the Danish...
.
People have been following the river from the coastal areas since the Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
and settling in its vicinity. Along Lagan was a trading route, the so called Lagastigen, which is now part of the road E4
European route E4
European route E 4 passes from north to south through Sweden from the border with Finland, total length . The Finnish part lies entirely within Tornio in northern Finland, and is actually only long...
.
See also
- The other three main HallandHalland' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , on the western coast of Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Småland, Scania and the sea of Kattegat.-Administration:...
rivers: ViskanViskanViskan is a river in the south west of Sweden. It is about 140 kilometers long. It starts in the lake Tolken outside Ulricehamn and has its outlet in the Kattegatt. It runs through Borås. The name means Whisper River....
, Ätran, Nissan - Lagan, a town located by the river some 10 kilometers north of LjungbyLjungby, SwedenLjungby is a locality and the seat of Ljungby Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden, with 14,810 inhabitants in 2005.Ljungby was originally a köping , which did not become a municipality of its own when the first local government acts took effect in 1863, but retained part of the surrounding rural...