SILJAN, LAKE

also spelled Silja, lake in the administrative ln (county) of Dalarna, central Sweden. Covering an area of 112 square miles (290 square km; including Orsa and In lakes, 137 square miles [354 square km]), it is Dalarna's largest lake and Sweden's third. After receiving the sterdal River at Mora, the lake stretches for a length of 25 miles (40 km) toward the southeast and extends into two bays, the wide Rtt to the northeast and the narrow ster to the south at Leksand. The lake's breadth varies from 1 to 7 miles (1.6 to 11 km). Sollern is a large island in the northwestern part of the lake. Deeply indented wooded shores interspersed with meadows and quaint villages have given Siljan one of the most attractive settings in Sweden, making it a noted tourist centre.