Motala ströms ravin

Outside Ljungsbro is Linköping's only jungle reserve. Actually, it's a ravine with lush deciduous forest, but the feeling is that you've ended up in the jungle.

The ravine has been formed by the Motala stream cutting its way into the soil layers and forming a deep valley. But nowadays the water flows through a canal to Malfors power station instead and the flow in the bottom of the ravine is therefore quite small. However, it may be useful to know that Tekniska verken, which operates the power station, uses the ravine as a spillway. This means that the flow through the watercourse at the bottom of the gorge can sometimes be significantly greater.

The ravine is covered by a species-rich mixed deciduous forest. Here you'll find beech, aspen, large oaks and lime trees together with dense hazel bushes. The forest is home to many rare and endangered species of birds, bats, butterflies, shells, mussels, mosses, lichens and fungi. In spring, spring onions, swallow-wort, wood anemone, wood anemone, water lily and cowslip bloom. There are also minor occurrences of witch hazel, thistle, spring pea and violet and a couple of occurrences of the orchid helleborine.

Bird life is rich in the ravine. Characteristic species are wrens, green warblers, warblers, blackcaps, robins and various thrush and woodpecker species. If you're lucky, you might even spot the iridescent kingfisher.

The reserve is quite challenging to visit with its steep slopes and dense deciduous forests. To make the visit easier, there is a hiking trail through the nature reserve.