Geography
Smålandsfarvandet (also called Smålandshavet) is a Danish sea area located between the islands of Zealand (Sjælland) to the north and the “Smålandene” – Lolland, Falster and Møn – to the south. It forms a maritime corridor that links the Store Bælt (Great Belt) with the Baltic Sea (Østersøen).
Area and Depth
The broad, open basin of Smålandsfarvandet, including Karrebæksminde Bay, covers approximately 908 km²; the southern portion that contains Sakskøbing Fjord adds another 249 km². The average water depth is about 10 metres, with the shallowest points (Venegrunde and Kirkegrund) reaching only 6 metres.
Salinity and Hydrology
Surface salinity decreases from west to east by roughly 6–8 Practical Salinity Units (PSU), reflecting the influx of less‑saline Baltic water. Under calm wind conditions the tidal currents reverse with the tide: high water enters from the west, while low water flows out eastward.
Population and Land Area
The coastline surrounding Smålandsfarvandet encloses a total land area of about 3 445 km², supporting an estimated 335 000 inhabitants.
Boundaries
Western limit (to Store Bælt): a line running from Korsør on Zealand, across the islands of Agersø and Omø, to Onsevig on Lolland.
Eastern limit (to the Baltic Sea): a series of lines extending from Jungshoved past Ægholm Sand to Ulvshale, skirting Grønsund, and from Flinthorne Rev to Skelby in Falster.
Principal Waterways
From the Store Bælt, three main passages enter Smålandsfarvandet:
- Agersø Sund (between Zealand and Agersø)
- Omø Sund (between Agersø and Omø)
- The channel between the Omø Stålgrunde and Lolland’s northern coast (with a minor additional passage between Omø Tofte and Omø Stålgrunde).
From the eastern side, three main routes lead out to the Baltic:
- Bøgestrømmen (between Zealand and Nyord)
- Grønsund (between Møn and Falster)
- Guldborg Sund (between Falster and Lolland).
Islands and Notable Features
The sea contains numerous islands and islets, including Agersø, Omø, Glænø, Enø, Gavnø, Dybsø, Masnedø, Farø, Bogø, Tærø, Langø, Lindholm, Nyord, Ægholm, and many smaller skerries. The region also encompasses several fjords and bays such as Karrebæksminde Bugt, Karrebæk Fjord, Dybsø Fjord, Avnø Fjord, Sakskøbing Fjord, and Stege Bugt.
Navigation
Smålandsfarvandet is a traditional navigation area documented in the standard Danish pilot book Den danske Lods. It is traversed by local vessels, including the historic Finnjolle sailing boats, and serves both commercial and recreational maritime traffic.
References
Information compiled from the Danish Wikipedia entry “Smålandsfarvandet” (accessed via a public web archive).
