Vat

A Vät is a shallow, periodically drying still water. Vätar are located in the Stora Alvaret on the Swedish east coast of Öland, but also on Gotland.

The type of water is characteristic of the landscape of an alvar. Due to the very thin soil layer and the rock layer beneath it, the precipitation water collects even in smaller valleys. In more precipitable seasons, therefore, very shallow water surfaces develop, sometimes with considerable expansions, which dry out very quickly in dry periods. Due to the constant change of living conditions, Vätar are vegetation-poor. Also, there is hardly any landfilling. On the bottom of an alvare lime earth and lime sludge can settle, but there is no formation of peat. Lower valleys in the Alvar, where water is permanently present, are called Alvarsee.

Due to the regular complete drying out and the very shallow water levels, Vätar is mostly free of fish. This gives other animal species such as dragonflies, crabs and beetles very good living conditions. Vät are also considered biotopes of waders. Edit source text

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