Roughly 100,000 lakes dot Sweden, and nearly 97% of the country has no permanent residents at all. Up in the far north, on the doorstep of the Arctic, sits one of its most striking bodies of water: Lake Akkajaure, a vast mountain reservoir that stretches about 37 miles through Lapland and covers around 100 square miles when water levels are high.
Here's the twist — Akkajaure isn't natural. It was created in the early 20th century when a dam was built on the Lule River to feed Sweden's growing demand for electricity. The project even forced redrawing of national park boundaries, splitting the surrounding wilderness into the two sections that still flank the lake today. Despite that industrial origin, the setting feels untouched: the lake sits inside the UNESCO-listed Laponian Area at roughly 1,500 feet above sea level, ringed by Arctic tundra, forest and glaciated peaks.
The most dramatic of those peaks is Mount Áhkká, a mountain of deep importance in Sámi culture that climbs over 6,600 feet and towers over the lake's southern shore, where as many as ten glaciers cling to its high ground. Parts of Stora Sjöfallet National Park wrap around the water on two sides.
For travellers, the appeal is access to some of Sweden's best long-distance hiking. The lake is a gateway to the Padjelantaleden, a 100-mile trail through Padjelanta National Park lined with mountain cabins. On the lake's own banks, the STF Akka Mountain Cabin serves as a base for day hikes, winter skiing and, in summer, walks along striking sandy lake beaches with views of the high peaks. You can also cross the water the slow way aboard the Storlule boat, watching the mountains from deck.
Reaching Akkajaure takes commitment — that's part of the charm. Driving from Stockholm means roughly 14 hours on the road. The shortcut is to fly to Gällivare, a regional town connected to Stockholm's airports, then drive two or three hours. There's no major town at the lake itself, so come prepared: this is wild country where the lake, the cabins and the trails are essentially the whole point.
Anyone craving the solitude that popular Swedish spots like Lake Vänern or the Stockholm Archipelago can't offer will find it here. If you're reasonably fit, love hiking between mountain huts, and want Sámi culture and glacial scenery in one sweep of the map, Akkajaure deserves a spot on your Lapland itinerary.
