Torneträsk is a small settlement in the far north of Sweden, in the province of Lappland. It is also a railway station and a lake. And it’s actually not just any lake, it’s the sixth-largest one in Sweden. This is one of the access points to the wilderness of Northern Sweden, with the railway station, helicopter station, and road making it possible for locals and tourists to access the great lake of Torneträsk. The lake is a popular weekend destination for the locals of Kiruna as they head out on the ice for recreational fishing.
A Short History of Torneträsk
The railway had in 1887 reached Gällivare and the iron ore mines in the area. It would take until 1898 before construction began to extend the route to the Norwegian border via Kiruna. This part of the line was completed in 1902 and the track went through the wilderness south of Lake Torneträsk. This was a railroad through the arctic north where no roads existed. It was not until 1984 that the road that is today the E10 was completed between Kiruna and Narvik.
Things to Do and See
There is a rest area along Road E10 that has easy access to a small lake, and it also provides a possibility for a barbeque or picnic. The old train station is also a sight in itself as there is a helipad for faster access to the area. But heading down the small road to the much larger Lake Torneträsk will provide you with the most amazing sight. The lake is vast and the many nearby mountains with white peaks create an amazing frame.
Lake Torneträsk
As the sixth largest lake in Sweden and the second deepest, Torneträsk is a famous site in Sweden. The lake is best known for fishing during the winter, but also activities such as sledding and snow scooters are popular. Swimming in the lake is not as common. The lake is frozen for a big part of the year and the temperature barely rises during the summer months. The maximum water temperature during the summer is according to many sources 9 degrees Celsius.
How to Get to Torneträsk
- Flights: The closest airport is Kiruna Airport (KRN) which is 59 kilometers to the south.
- Car: Torneträsk is along Road E10 north of Kiruna.
- Bus: Buses from Länstrafiken Norrbotten connect Torneträsk with the surrounding region.
- Train: The local train station has trains along the line between Kiruna and Narvik in Norway.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 1285 kilometers (13 h 53 min)
- Gothenburg – 1633 kilometers (18 h 30 min)
- Malmö – 1892 kilometers (20 h 18 min)
- Linköping – 1481 kilometers (16 h 10 min)
- Kiruna – 52 kilometers (37 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
