Stikåsälsbäcken, Naturreservat

Tall spruce forest and vibrant flowers vie for space here along the water’s edge. Stikåsälsbäcken, the stream that gave the nature reserve its name, flows straight through the area and empties into the Ryssån.

A fish species of national interest swims here

Stikåsälsbäcken is a small stream that flows into the Ryssån River. The river serves as a spawning and rearing ground for the Siljan char, which has been designated a fish stock of national interest. The County Administrative Board is therefore prioritizing measures in Siljan’s tributaries in the coming years. This may involve restoring the stream to its original flow. For example, migration barriers are being removed so that the fish can pass through.

Beautiful Flowers and Fragrant Plants

Along the stream grow dwarf ragwort, golden saxifrage, and baneberry. Here you’ll also find the beautiful ostrich fern and the whimsical string fern, which winds its way along with a stem like a long rope. In the water, water moss grows on the rocks. Out in the marshlands, you can smell the scent of myrica and bog rosemary and admire the beautiful plants such as water clover, rose-leaved willowherb, and meadow knapweed. The orchids lady’s slipper and spider orchid are also found in the area.

An experimental area with nearly a century of history

Stikåsälsbäcken is located within the Siljansfors Experimental Park. The park was established in 1921 by Stora Kopparberg AB and transferred to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), which conducts forestry research within the experimental park. Stikåsälsbäcken is a reference area within the experimental park and contains no experiments, test plots, or similar features. A reference area serves as a point of comparison—an undisturbed site against which to compare other areas where experiments have been conducted.

Pronunciation of the Name Stikå-säls-bäcken

It’s a bit of a tongue-twister to try to say the name of this nature reserve—Stikåsälsbäcken. Upstream from the stream lies the village of Stikåsäl, likely named after someone named Stikå. “Säl” means “mountain pasture.” So perhaps it’s a little easier to say: Stikå-säls-bäcken!