The southernmost territory of the Lake Storsjön monster stretches from Svenstavik in the south to Hallen in the north and spreads from Näktenbygden in the east and the Bydalen and Oviken fells to the west. The area is also called Södra (southern) Storsjöbygden and from here it only takes 40 mins to Östersund. Svenstavik is the venue for the observation centre where you can follow the movements of the monster via under-water cameras in Lake Storsjön.

Södra Storsjöbygden is the realm of culture and handicraft and here, the Storsjö monster ranks among culture. Art and handicraft as a result of enthusiasm, creativity and a passion for wood is on wide display with art exhibitions at Wikners i Persåsen.

The competition ‘Nick of the Year’ in Hackås is another cultural event, in which every year a number of men take part with their instruments but with little less, trying to best portray the mythical Nick.

After visits to Himmelriket (Heaven) and the pilgrim centre at Hackås church, or having learned about all creative people who were active in the so-called Snilleriket, the time may be ripe for some physical activities.

The most obvious landmark of the area, Mount Hoverberget invites bird’s eye views of the neighbourhood. On clear days the views include the Helags massif and as many as 13 church towers around the lake.

Or maybe you prefer putting in a higher gear at one of the country’s best go-cart courses or, if you are visiting in the winter, getting a driving license in Persåsen’s 1.2 km long sledge course with a lift.

In Södra Storsjöbygden you will be touring a landscape with long traditions of music, art and handicraft. We wish you a good time in a genuine culture landscape.

Storsjöodjuret – the Great Lake Monster

It was a hot summer night in August 2008. A man and a woman had just started trolling for fish on the eastern side of Mount Hoverberget. The evening was still and quiet.

Suddenly the serenity is disturbed by something unexpected and remarkable; something the man and woman never will forget. Something black and shiny, powerful, beautiful yet terrifying, a creature breaking the water surface and approaching the trolling boat at high speed…

Do you believe there is a Storsjöodjuret monster? Whether you do or not is irrelevant, the tale of the Storsjöodjuret is worth considering anyway. The myth is more than one thousand years old and has an important role in the history of Jämtland. The tale has left its imprint on the landscape where the people around Lake Storsjön have felt fear as well as fascination for the monster. Some are believers, others just laugh but strangely enough, the testimonies seem never ending and in principle every year there are new stories about unexplainable phenomena in the lake. And the mystery prevails since no one so far has been able to capture what is hiding underneath the surface of the lake.

In Svenstavik, the southern gateway to the Storsjöbygden area, a Storsjöodjurs Center is under construction. This is the realm of ingenuity and entrepreneurship widely known through all the innovative people who have lived here and the local business association wants to continue in this spirit by creating the Storsjöodjurs Center to also inspire future generations to believing in the future. The centre will be filled with experiences, facts, questions and possible explanations, all presented in a novel and smart way, not least by using a thoroughly planned interactive design. This is novel technology which will raise the sensations of the visitors while offering the opportunity for active solutions. Mixing state-of-the-art technology with one of the best known and fascinating myths of the region should prove quite a success.

The original idea of the centre stems from the unique and true encounter of an individual with Storsjöodjuret. One of the members of the Svenstaviks Företagarförening had, in the company of a friend, a complete experience; an encounter with what, we are unable to tell, but maybe you can interpret. It was anyway a given for us to start this story with their unique testimony. And this is where this adventure started for us.

Welcome to Svenstavik and Storsjöbygden storsjoodjuret.nu.