Lillsjön is a small, former lake

Lake

A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...

 at Norra Djurgården, a rural area in north-eastern central Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

, Sweden

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....

, forming part of the national city park

National park

A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...

 Ekoparken

Ekoparken

The Royal National City Park is the world's first National City Park, established in 1995 in the municipalities of Stockholm, Solna and Lidingö in Sweden.1/ km²2/ Population per km²- Pictures :Some places in "The Eco Park"....

. Today transformed into a wetland

Wetland

A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....

, it is often mentioned as one of the six lakes in the area, the other being: Laduviken, Uggleviken

Uggleviken

Uggleviken is a former bay and lake at Norra Djurgården, a rural area in north-eastern central Stockholm, Sweden, forming part of the national city park Ekoparken....

, Isbladskärret

Isbladskärret

Isbladskärret is a small lake on Djurgården, an island in central Stockholm, Sweden. The lake is much appreciated among bird-watchers, and, being part of the National park in central Stockholm, Ekoparken, also carefully monitored by several organizations, including the World Wide Fund for Nature...

, Lappkärret

Lappkärret

Lappkärret is a small lake at Norra Djurgården in north-eastern central Stockholm, Sweden. It is one of six lakes in Djurgården, the others being: Lillsjön, Uggleviken, Isbladskärret, Laduviken, and Spegeldammen....

, and Spegeldammen

Spegeldammen

Spegeldammen is a small lake at Norra Djurgården in north-eastern central Stockholm, Sweden. It is one of six lakes in Djurgården, the others being Lillsjön, Uggleviken, Isbladskärret, Laduviken, and Lappkärret....

.

Lillsjön used to be connected to other lakes in the area through narrow straits. Through a project sponsored by the World Wide Fund for Nature

World Wide Fund for Nature

The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...

, water was pumped into the small basin reinforced by new embankments. Reed

Phragmites

Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Phragmites australis is sometimes regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide Phragmites australis into three or four species...

 was also burnt away, and the former lake thus transformed into a shore meadow attracting many birds, starting with Northern Lapwing

Northern Lapwing

The Northern Lapwing , also known as the Peewit, Green Plover or just Lapwing, is a bird in the plover family. It is common through temperate Eurasia....

s in March, followed by Common Snipe

Common Snipe

The Common Snipe is a small, stocky wader native to the Old World. The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows throughout northern Europe and northern Asia...

s later in spring. In autumn, many birds rest here on their way south, such as Wood Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper

The Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, is a small wader. This Eurasian species is the smallest of the shanks, which are mid-sized long-legged waders of the family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...

s, Common Redshank

Common Redshank

The Common Redshank or simply Redshank is an Eurasian wader in the large family Scolopacidae.- Description and systematics :...

s, Greenshank

Greenshank

The Common Greenshank is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders. Its closest relative is the Greater Yellowlegs, together with which and the Spotted Redshank it forms a close-knit group...

s, and Ruffs.
A striking feature at Lillsjön are the Highland cattle

Highland cattle

Highland cattle or kyloe are a Scottish breed of beef cattle with long horns and long wavy coats which are coloured black, brindled, red, yellow or dun....

 residing there from May to October. Not only do they attract many Stockholmers of all ages, they also have an impact on the local fauna as they eat reed and Tufted Hair-grass

Tufted Hair-grass

Deschampsia cespitosa, commonly known as Tufted Hair-grass or Tussock grass is a perennial tufted plant in the grass family Poaceae...

, thus preventing these species from taking over the area – and thereby allowing space to flowers such as Cowslips

Primula veris

Primula veris is a flowering plant in the genus Primula. The species is found throughout most of temperate Europe and Asia, and although absent from more northerly areas including much of northwest Scotland, it reappears in northernmost Sutherland and Orkney.-Names:The common name cowslip derives...

 and Bitter vetch

Bitter vetch

Vicia ervilia, the bitter vetch, is an ancient grain legume crop of the Mediterranean region. Besides the English name, other common names include: Gavdaneh , kersannah , yero , rovi , and burçak . The nutritional value of the grain for ruminant production has guaranteed the continued cultivation...

, as well as birds and insects attracted by water.

See also

• Geography of Stockholm
  Geography of Stockholm
  The City of Stockholm is situated on fourteen islands and on the banks to the archipelago where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. The city centre is virtually situated on the water.- Islands and islets :- Lakes and watercourses :...
  
  
• Lakes in Sweden