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4.3.2.      Ecological status, pressures and impacts of Europe’s largest lakes

General overview

The largest lakes of Europe are the lakes Ladoga and Onega in Russia, the lakes Vänern, Vättern and Mälaren in Sweden, Lake Saimaa in Finland, Lake Peipsi in Estonia/Russia, and Lake Ijsselmeer in the Netherlands. All these lakes have a surface area more than 1000 km².

Based on the member states reporting of lake water bodies in the river basin management plans, there are 67 lake water bodies with a surface area larger than 150 km². One third of these are in less than good ecological status or potential (Figure 4.12).

Most of the large lake water bodies are found in Sweden and Finland, and the large majority of these (74%) are in good or better ecological status or potential.  The only large lake water body reported to be in poor status in these Nordic member states is the Swedish lake Hjälmaren. Lake Hjälmaren is a shallow, lowland lake situated in a region with lime-rich clays and large agricultural areas surrounding the lake contributing to the nutrient loading of the water. The lake is used as a freshwater reservoir, as a recipient of sewage water-mainly from the town Örebro in the westernmost part - and for recreational purposes. The accelerated eutrophication during the last thirty years has especially affected the two basins closest to the town Örebro due to the increased population of the town (http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/eur/eur-14.html ).