VETTER, a lake of south Sweden, 8o m. long and 18 m. in extreme breadth, 733 sq.m. in area, 390 ft. maximum depth, and an elevation above sea-level of 289 ft. It drains by the Motala river to the Baltic. Its waters are remarkably transparent and blue, its shores picturesque and steep on the east side, where the Omberg (863 ft.) rises abruptly, with furrowed flanks pierced by caves. The lake is subject to sudden storms. Its northern part is crossed from Karlsborg to Motala by the Gota canal route. At the south
ern end is the important manufacturing town of Jonkoping, and 15 m. N. of it the picturesque island of Vising. Vadstena, 8 m. S. of Motala, with a staple industry in lace, has a convent (now a hospital) of St. Bridget (1383), a beautiful monastic church (1395-1424) and a castle of King Gustavus Vasa. At Alvastra, 16 m. S., are ruins of a Cistercian monastery (11th century).