Bergslagen

Bergslagen 

a mining region in the central part of Sweden, between the river Dal on the north; the river Klar on the west; and lakes Malar, Hjälmar, and Väner on the south. It was established in the 16th and 17th centuries to exploit the iron ore deposits, the coniferous forests (to produce charcoal), and the abundant waterpower of the rivers. The yield of iron ore is 5 million tons (1968). Following World War II the plants specialized in smelting electric steel. The region produces about two-thirds of the steel and rolled metal in the country (including more than 1 million tons of high-grade steel). The main centers of ferrous metallurgy are Borlänge, Avesta, Fagersta, Sandviken, Hofors, Hagfors, and Hälle-fors. On the southern margin of Bergslagen are the large machine-building and metal-working centers: Karlstad, Karlskoga, Västerås, and Eskilstuna. Along the Dal and Klar rivers there are a series of hydroelectric stations with a total power of more than 1 gigawatt (1 million kilowatts).