The Umeälven is one of the main rivers in northern Sweden. It is around 460 km long, and flows in a south-eastern direction from its source, the lake Överuman by the Norwegian border within the Scandinavian mountain range. It drains into the Gulf of Bothnia on Sweden's east coast at the small town Holmsund, just adjacent to the city of Umeå. Its main tributary is the Vindel River. 1732, the great swedish scientist Carl von Linné, on his Expedition to Lapland, travelled from Umeå towards Lycksele, a town much further inland from the coast than he had traveled until then, examining the aquatic life on the way. After five days, he reached the town and stayed with the pastor and his wife. He then attempted to reach Sorsele but had to turn around at a place called Lycksmyran due to extremely difficult conditions. He described this part of Lapland as "hell on earth". The images for The Freshwater Project are from this part of his expedition, mainly from the Ume älven and the Juktån close to the Lycksmyran, and some smaller tributaries.

Freshwater Ecoregion of the World : #406 Northern Baltic Drainages Major Habitat Type: polar freshwaters