The Uppsala River Rafting EventThe Uppsala River Rafting Event is an event organized in Uppsala, Sweden on the Fyris River at the end of April each year. Started in 1975 by the students Anders Ahnesjö and Carl-Johan Hansson, the event is organized by the Uppsala Union of Engineering and Science Students (UTN). The River RaftingThe rafting takes place on 30 April every year, Walpurgis Night.
Battle of FýrisvellirBelligerents The Swedish levyJomsvikingsKingdom of DenmarkCommanders and leadersEric the VictoriousTorgny the LawspeakerStyrbjörn the Strong†Tóki Gormsson†Strength Thousands 5,000 warriors or moreThe Battle of Fýrisvellir was fought in the 980s on the plain called Fýrisvellir, where modern Uppsala is situated, between King Eric the Victorious and an invading force. According to Norse sagas, this force was led by his nephew Styrbjörn the Strong.
UpplandUppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The name literally means up land, a name which is commonly encountered in especially older English literature as Upland. Its Latinised form, which is occasionally used, is Uplandia.
MälarenMälaren (UK: MEL-ər-en, US: MAY-lar-ən, Swedish: [ˈmɛ̂ːlarɛn] or [ˈmɛ̂ːlaɳ]), historically referred to as Lake Malar in English, is the third-largest freshwater lake in Sweden (after Vänern and Vättern). Its area is 1,140 km2 (440 sq mi) and its greatest depth is 64 m (210 ft). Mälaren spans 120 km (74.6 mi) from east to west.
FyrisvellirFyrisvellir, Fyris Wolds, or Fyrisvallarna, was the marshy plain (vellir) south of Gamla Uppsala where travellers had to leave the ships on the river Fyris (Fyrisån) and walk to the Temple at Uppsala and the hall of the Swedish king. EtymologyThe name is related to, or derived from, Old NorseFyrva which meant "to ebb" and it referred to the partially inundated soggy plains that today are dry farmland and the modern town of Uppsala.
UppsalaUppsala ( ; Swedish:; archaically spelled Upsala) is the capital of Uppsala County and the fourth-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. It had 177,074 inhabitants in 2019. Located 71 km (44 mi) north of the capital Stockholm, it is also the seat of Uppsala Municipality. Since 1164, Uppsala has been the ecclesiastical centre of Sweden, being the seat of the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden.
Provinces of SwedenThe 25 provinces of Sweden (Swedish: Sveriges landskap) are historical, geographical and cultural regions. They have no administrative function, but retain their own cultural identities, dialects and folklore. Several were administrative subdivisions until 1634, when they were replaced by the counties of Sweden (län). Some were conquered later on from Denmark–Norway. Others, like the provinces of Finland, have been lost.
Fish ladderA fish ladder, also known as a pescalator, fishway, fish pass, fish steps or fish cannon, is a waterway structure on or around artificial and natural barriers (such as dams, locks and waterfalls) that provides aquatic animals (particularly fish) a "detour" to facilitate natural movements and migrations of diadromous and potamodromous species.
WeirA weir, or low-head dam is a barrier across the width of a body of water that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the water level. Weirs are used to control the flow of water in rivers, outlets of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, industrial discharge, and drainage control structures. There are many weir designs, but commonly water flows freely over the top of the weir crest before cascading down to a lower level.
Fish migrationFish migration is mass relocation by fish from one area or body of water to another. Many types of fish migrate on a regular basis, on time scales ranging from daily to annually or longer, and over distances ranging from a few metres to thousands of kilometres. Such migrations are usually done for better feeding or to reproduce, but in other cases the reasons are unclear.
Walpurgis NightWalpurgis Night (), an abbreviation of Saint Walpurgis Night (from the GermanSankt-Walpurgisnacht), also known as Saint Walpurga's Eve (alternatively spelled Saint Walburga's Eve) and Walpurgisnacht, is the eve of the Christian feast day of Saint Walpurga, an 8th-century abbess in Francia, and is celebrated on the night of 30 April and the day of 1 May.
Upplands Väsby MunicipalityUpplands Väsby Municipality (Swedish: Upplands Väsby kommun) is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden, with a population of 50,610 (2026). Its seat is located in the town of Upplands Väsby. The municipality was created in connection with the municipal reform of 1952, when the rural municipalities Ed, Fresta and Hammarby were amalgamated. It got its name from a settlement which had evolved around the railway station.
Asp (fish)The asp (Leuciscus aspius) is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Leuciscidae, which includes the daces, minnows and related fishes. This species is found in continental Europe and western Asia.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.