Ferlindoppet

Swimming through Lake Daglösen means tracing a central aquatic artery in Värmland that has gathered open-water swimmers for over forty seasons. Ferlindoppet is an open water swimming race held in the fresh waters of Lake Daglösen, right in the center of the town of Filipstad in Värmland, Sweden. Organized by Filipstads Simklubb as the centerpiece of the annual Ferlindoppsdagarna festival, the gathering has built a four-decade tradition that unites local families and competitive endurance swimmers. Held in late July, the event takes place in the calm inland waters of central Sweden. The competitive program offers an accessible ladder of distances, spanning 400, 1000, 1300, and 2000 meters. The flagship event of the weekend is the 1300-meter course, featuring dedicated individual categories for men and women alongside masters divisions for participants aged fifty and over.

Beyond the local podiums, this 1300-meter race holds major significance across Sweden as an official seeding competition for Vansbrosimningen. Swimmers aiming for an improved starting wave in Vansbro test their pacing across Daglösen, knowing that their finishing mark directly shapes their position in one of the country's most celebrated mass-participation swims. Community formats round out the weekend with dedicated heats for different ages and groups. Young swimmers under the age of twelve contest the Minisim Rörmontage AB race, introducing a rising generation of athletes to the open lake. Adult and recreational swimmers can also form trios for the Lagsimningen Big Hill AB event, a mixed three-person sprint over 400 meters that requires at least one competitor of the opposite sex on each roster.

Across past editions, the lake has treated swimmers to comfortable conditions, with water temperatures recorded around 19 to 20 degrees in recent summers, and occasionally rising as high as 22 degrees while air temperatures hover near 20 degrees. These pleasant midsummer temperatures allow participants to settle into a relaxed, steady stroke from the start horn to the finish gantry.

Ferlindoppet since 1982: Lersjön, Daglösen and the winners’ stone

The first Ferlindoppet was swum in 1982, and the 2022 race was the fortieth edition. In its first year, and again when the Bergmästarbron bridge was built, the race was held in Lersjön; in all other years it has been swum in Daglösen. The finish at Bergmästarbron goes back several hundred years, to when part of the boat traffic on Daglösen departed from there. For the fortieth edition, Filipstads Simklubb put up a winners’ stone at the finish with the municipality’s approval. All 35 different winners were invited to the anniversary day in 2022, and 28 of them were able to attend. In the centre of Filipstad, the statue of the poet Nils Ferlin is said to be one of the most photographed in Sweden.

Lake Daglösen: hydrology, depth and connecting rivers

Lake Daglösen itself forms an extensive freshwater basin covering 7.28 square kilometers at an elevation of 128 meters above sea level. While broad, Lake Daglösen plunges to a maximum depth of 26 meters in its deeper channels. The lake receives its inflow from Lake Lersjön through the flowing channel of the Skillerälven river, while its waters are drained by the Timsälven river. Swimmers navigating the course move through a body of water that acts as an active hydrological link between local river courses. To the south, the water borders an island with an unusual history. In 1906, local engineers canalized the Prästbäcken stream to create a direct artificial connection into Lake Daglösen.

This engineering project detached a vast landmass from the mainland, creating the island of Storforsön. Covering 5,411 hectares between Lake Daglösen to the north and Lake Öjevettern to the south, it stands as the largest island in Värmland and the twenty-third largest anywhere in Sweden. Further along the network lies Lake Lungen, an expansive body of water covering 7.15 square kilometers at an altitude of 155 meters. Reaching down to a depth of 18.1 meters, Lungen is drained by the Lungälven watercourse, adding its substantial volume to the flowing network of central Sweden. The intimate lake of Abborrtjärnen covers 0.304 square kilometers at an altitude of 158 meters above sea level.

Belonging to the main catchment area of the Göta älv, its water travels through three successive watercourses over a journey of 345 kilometers before emptying into the sea. Similarly, Hemtjärnen covers 0.303 square kilometers at an elevation of 152.2 meters, with a surrounding catchment area that is 69 percent covered by dense Swedish woodland. Water leaving Hemtjärnen traverses three separate streams across 354 kilometers on its long march to ocean waters, highlighting how these quiet inland lakes tie into massive oceanic river systems.

Bergslagskanalen: the historic iron route and neighboring Lake Yngen

Lake Daglösen is part of the historic Bergslagskanalen, an iconic waterway route now preserved for recreational boating and cultural tourism. Today, outdoor enthusiasts and endurance paddlers follow the Järnrundan canoe trail, a designated circular route that loops all the way around Lake Daglösen. Lake Yngen rests at an elevation of 199 meters above sea level and covers 27 square kilometers. Lake Yngen is celebrated for its exceptionally clear water, offering visibility depths that reach approximately ten meters. On the island of Getön, mining operations between 1784 and 1918 extracted 64,000 tons of iron ore, sinking shafts to an astonishing depth of 148 meters below the surface. Storön island also witnessed substantial mining activity, yielding 13,000 tons of iron ore between 1753 and 1870.

The aquatic life inhabiting Lake Yngen reflects both pristine ancient genetics and recent ecological shifts. The lake harbors one of the few surviving original populations of Arctic char south of the Dalälven river, thriving in its cold, deep waters. While historical outbreaks of crayfish plague completely wiped out the lake's native noble crayfish, an introduced population of signal crayfish has successfully established itself in the rocky shallows. For swimmers exploring the district, knowing these rare glacial relict fish still cruise the depths adds a touch of untamed wilderness to every stroke.

Talludden and Filipstad: the shores of Daglösen today

Along Lake Daglösen, the water's edge reflects the balance between human settlement and deep Nordic wilderness. The western and northern shores are home to the town's residential areas, active farmland, and the urban core of Filipstad. In contrast, the eastern and southern margins remain almost entirely blanketed by quiet, unbroken forest land that reaches down to the water's edge. Breathing to alternate sides during a long set, a swimmer glances toward town roofs on one stroke and endless pines on the next. The heart of lakeside life and the focal point for open-water swimmers is the Talludden bathing area. Talludden features a generous sandy beach lying beside a gently sloping grassy hill, providing a comfortable natural amphitheater for athletes and spectators alike.

The site is equipped with floating piers extending into the lake, as well as picnic tables, benches, and swings where families gather during the race weekend. After crossing the finish line, swimmers can pull off their caps and goggles and rest on the sun-warmed grass.