Getaryggen, Naturreservat

The Getaryggen nature reserve consists of a small part of Bosjöåsen, an 18-kilometer-long pebble ridge that stretches along the county border. It was formed by an ice river when the ice sheet melted. This particular part has a clearly marked profile, a so-called goat ridge. The dry pebble ridges were often used as natural travel routes in early times. The path along the ridge is part of Bergslagsleden and Munkastigen.

Getaryggen - part of Bosjöåsen

Getaryggen is a small part of a longer stretch of ridges between Ullasand by Lake Vättern to Bomberget by Lake Grytsjön. The northern extension of Bosjöåsen runs through another nature reserve, Kråksjöåsen-Kojemossen. The ridges form the border between Svealand and Götaland as well as between Örebro and Västra Götaland counties. Rolling stone ridges have always been of great importance to humans. The fact that they are dry and easily accessible makes them easy to travel on. The path on this pebble ridge is part of the Monk's Path, a medieval pilgrimage route between Riseberga Abbey and Lake Vättern. On the other side of Lake Vättern were the monasteries of Vadstena and Alvastra.

A memory from the time of the ice sheet

When the ice sheet began to melt, large amounts of water were formed, which flowed in giant ice rivers inside and under the ice. At the ice edge, the speed and carrying capacity of the water decreased and all the rocks, gravel and sand carried by the ice river fell to the bottom. The ice edge moved slowly northwards as the ice sheet melted. This is why pebble ridges usually run in a north-south direction. This particular stretch of ridge is above the highest coastline, the boundary where the surging waves of the ice sea reached the highest. This is why Getaryggen has a sharply defined crest, while the waves have given ridges below sea level a rounder shape.