Östersund & the Bothnian Coast - Sweden - page 569

end nights, when her walls reverberate with the sounds of live jazz and rock. The menu's a
bit hit-and-miss, but the charcuterie and cheese platters from local producers are a sure bet.

STORSJÖODJURET - THE LAKE MONSTER

Just imagine…you're sitting by Storsjön lake at dusk when you notice a dark shadow rise
out of the water. Could it be just ripples in the wake of a passing boat? Perhaps a couple
of elk swimming? Or maybe it's the head of Storsjöodjuret ( www.storsjoodjuret.com ) - the
monster that dwells somewhere in the dark waters of the 91m-deep lake.
Sightings of the only monster of its kind in Sweden were made as early as 1635, when
the description of a strange animal with a black serpentine body and catlike head first ap-
peared in a folk tale. The Frösö Runestone does, in fact, depict a serpentlike creature and
the Lake Monster has had such a grip on the public imagination that in 1894 a hunt for it
was organised by a special committee put together by King Oscar II. However, the Norwe-
gian whalers specially hired for the job came back empty-handed. Every summer there
are claims of new sightings, and the monster was granted protected status as an 'en-
dangered species' in 1986, only for that status to be revoked in 2005.
Through the Östersund tourist office you can book a spot on the popular two-hour
monster-spotting cruise aboard the 1875 steamship S/S Thomée (adult/child Skr120/60;
tours Tue-Sun Jun-early Sep).

Information

Tourist Office TOURIST INFORMATION

( GOOGLE MAP ; 063-14 40 01; www.visitostersund.se ; Rådhusgatan 44; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri,

10am-3pm Sat & Sun)
The tourist office is opposite the town hall, and has free internet access.

Getting There & Around

AIR

Åre Östersund Airport AIRPORT

( 063-19 30 00; www.swedavia.se/ostersund )