Naturminnesförklarad ek på Mariebergsudden

At the shores of Lake Vättern, a giant oak grows that is protected as a natural monument. The oak is about 30 m high and about 480 cm in circumference! It is an old oak that may well be 200 - 300 years old. Old large trees are of great importance to many species. For example, when oaks get older, they often get a lot of cavities. These cavities are important habitats for birds, insects and mammals. More information can be read on the information sign on site. It says more about the oak and about the forest where it grows.

Natural monuments can be partly individual natural objects such as moving blocks, giant pots or old and large trees, and partly very small areas with interesting natural phenomena.

Natural monuments are protected by decision of Länsstyrelsen. The form of protection was introduced in 1909, and most natural monuments in Östergötland were created before 1964 when the Nature Conservation Act came into force. Today, Länsstyrelsen very rarely decides on new natural monuments.