Søhøjlandet (English: ''The Lake-highland'') is the highest lying region in
Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
and at the same time, it has the highest density of lakes.Det midtjyske Søhøjland Danish Nature Agency.
Administrative structure
Søhøjlandet lies within
Central Denmark Region
The Central Denmark Region (), or more directly translated as the Central Jutland Region and sometimes simply Mid-Jutland, is an administrative region of Denmark established on 1 January 2007 as part of the 2007 Danish municipal reform. The refo ...
in eastern
Jutland
Jutland (; , ''Jyske Halvø'' or ''Cimbriske Halvø''; , ''Kimbrische Halbinsel'' or ''Jütische Halbinsel'') is a peninsula of Northern Europe that forms the continental portion of Denmark and part of northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein). It ...
and comprise
Silkeborg Municipality
Silkeborg Municipality () is a municipality ( Danish, '' kommune'') in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 857.16 km2, and has a population of 101,574 (1. January 2025). Its may ...
,
Aarhus Municipality
Aarhus Municipality (), known as Århus Municipality () until 2011, is a ''Municipalities of Denmark, kommune'' in the Central Denmark Region, on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark.
The municipality covers an area of , and ...
Odder Municipality
Odder Municipality () is a municipality (Danish language, Danish: ''Municipalities of Denmark, kommune'') in the Region Midtjylland, Central Denmark Region on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in Central Denmark south of Aarhus. It is a part ...
,
Skanderborg Municipality
Skanderborg Municipality () is a municipality ( Danish, '' kommune'')
in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in central Denmark, just southwest of Aarhus. It covers an area of 462.45 km2, with a population of 65,760 (1. January 2025) ...
Favrskov Municipality
Favrskov Municipality (, ) is a Commune (subnational entity), municipality in Central Denmark Region in Denmark north of Aarhus and is a part of the Aarhus area. According to municipal and regional key figures the municipality covers an area of a ...
.Søhøjlandet Danish Nature Agency. A map of the administrative borders.
The area is administered by a special department under the Danish Nature Agency; ''Nature Agency - Søhøjlandet'', who has responsibility for the management of nature, outdoor activities and public guidance in the area. In practice this implies tasks such as administering the forestry laws, advisory service to private woodlandowners on subsidies, advisory service about damage to or by wild animals and handling exemptions to game management within the area.
Nature Agency - Søhøjlandet has its headquarters in the southernmost part of
Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Denmark, Danish town with a population of 52,571 (1 January 2025).Vejlsø lake.
Nature
The landscape of Søhøjlandet is characterized by extensive forests, lakes enclosed by woodlands,
heathland
A heath () is a shrubland habitat found mainly on free-draining infertile, acidic soils and is characterised by open, low-growing woody vegetation. Moorland is generally related to high-ground heaths with—especially in Great Britain—a coole ...
s and many smaller
meadow
A meadow ( ) is an open habitat or field, vegetated by grasses, herbs, and other non- woody plants. Trees or shrubs may sparsely populate meadows, as long as they maintain an open character. Meadows can occur naturally under favourable con ...
s and pasture commons, covering hilly terrains. Several of the larger lakes are interconnected by the Gudenå, the longest river in Denmark. The river of Salten Å also marks the landscape. Several of the lakes in Søhøjlandet are of biological interest and the lake of Slåensø, is considered among the cleanest lakes in Denmark. Forests accounts for more than 30% of the total area of Søhøjlandet, primarily found in Silkeborg Forests.
A larger part of Søhøjlandet is to be protected and is designated as
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectiv ...
, EU Habitats Directive, Ramsar and various bird protection areas. The bird life is rich and varied and of international importance.
Gallery
Typical landscapes of Søhøjlandet:
File:Blakshøj udsigt mod syd 02.jpg
File:964Silkeborgsøerne.jpg
File:Tranevig.jpg
File:HimmelbjergetView.jpg
File:Gudenaa ved Langsøs Udloeb.jpg
File:Ørnsø.jpg
File:Sejs-Svejbæk set fra Sindbjerg 2.jpg