It occupies both banks of the Motala, the wide and rapid emissary of lake Vetter, close to its outlet in the Bravik, an inlet of the Baltic. Having been burned by the Russians in 1719 and visited by further fires in 1812, 1822 and 1826, the whole town has a modern appearance, with wide and regular streets.
The order spread widely in Sweden and Norway, and played a remarkable part in promoting culture and literature in Scandinavia; to this is to be attributed the fact that the head house at Vastein, by Lake Vetter, was not suppressed till 1595.
Vener, Vetter and Hjelmar are broad and open; Molar is very irregular in form, and of great length.
Molar, Vener and Hjelmar contain many islands; in Vetter there are comparatively few.
None of the lakes is of very great depth, the deepest sounding occurring in Vetter, 390 ft.