Data Zone
Country/territory: Sweden
IBA criteria met: A1, A3, A4i, B1i, B2, B3, C1, C2, C6 (2007)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 110,000 hectares (1,100.00 km2)
Site description (2000 baseline)
A very shallow, nutrient-poor lake in the upper part of the River Indal system, partly surrounded by marshy areas and with a sandy ridge along one 2 km stretch of shoreline. The confluence of two rivers at the western end of the site has formed the Handol delta and there are other deltas to the north-west and south-east. The lower River Handolan contains rapids, waterfalls, and gorges; there is extensive forest nearby. `Other' land-use (below) is grazing land for reindeer Rangifer tarandus.
Key biodiversity
The IBA is very important for a variety of breeding waterbirds, raptors, grouse and waders. Breeding birds include nine out of the 32 species in Europe that are restricted (when breeding) to the Arctic/tundra biome.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Ånn – Storlien (Sweden). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-ånn-–-storlien-iba-sweden on 23/12/2024.