Gullmarn

{{Short description|Fjord on the west coast of Sweden}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Gullmarn

| native_name =

| other_name = {{hlist|Gullmarsfjorden|Gullmaren}}

| image = Evening in Barkedal harbor 1.jpg

| alt = Refer to caption

| caption = Central Gullmarn with Stora Bornö as seen from Barkedal

| pushpin_map = Sweden Västra Götaland

| pushpin_map_alt = Refer to caption

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Gullmarn in Västra Götaland

| image_bathymetry =

| alt_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Västra Götaland County, Sweden

| coords = {{coord|58|15|45|N|11|27|00|E|region:SE_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}

| type = Fjord

| inflow = Saltkälle fjord, Färlev fjord

| rivers = Örekilsälven

| outflow = Skagerrak

| length =

| width =

| area =

| depth = {{cvt|45|m|ft}}

| max-depth = {{cvt|125|m|ft}}

| volume =

| residence_time =

| salinity =

| shore =

| elevation =

| frozen = shallow parts Jan-Feb

| islands = {{hlist|Skaftö|Lindholmen|Stora Bornö|Lilla Bornö}}

| sections =

| trenches =

| benches =

| cities = Lysekil

| website =

| reference =

}}

Gullmarn, also known as Gullmarsfjorden or Gullmaren, is a threshold fjord in the middle of Bohuslän Archipelago on the west coast of Sweden. It is the largest of the Bohuslän fjords{{cite web |title=Gullmarn |url=http://www.uddevalla.se/kulturfritidnatur/naturfiskefriluftsliv/naturochkulturguide/omraden/hogstorphogasskredsvik/hogstorpmmplatser/gullmarn.4.706dd61a10ebd5abe9480006475.html |publisher=Uddevalla Natur- och kulturguide |accessdate=8 January 2016 |location=Uddevalla, Sweden |language=Swedish |date=29 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128111331/http://www.uddevalla.se/kulturfritidnatur/naturfiskefriluftsliv/naturochkulturguide/omraden/hogstorphogasskredsvik/hogstorpmmplatser/gullmarn.4.706dd61a10ebd5abe9480006475.html |archive-date=28 January 2016 |url-status=dead}} with a length of {{cvt|25|km|mi}} and a width ranging from {{cvt|1|-|3|km|mi}}.{{cite web |title=Gullmarn |url=http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/vastragotaland/Sv/djur-och-natur/skyddad-natur/naturreservat/lanets-naturreservat/lysekil/gullmarn/Pages/index.aspx |publisher=Länsstyrelsen Västra Götalands län |accessdate=8 January 2016 |location=Gothenburg, Sweden |language=Swedish}} At its mouth, the depth is {{cvt|45|m|ft}}, plunging to {{cvt|125|m|ft}} at its greatest depth near Alsbäck. The name "Gullmarn" means "God's sea" and comes from Old Norse.{{cite web |last1=Hellquist |first1=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |url=https://runeberg.org/svetym/0298.html |access-date=8 January 2016 |page=210 |language=Swedish |date=1922}} At its northern end the fjord branches into the Färlev and Saltkälle fjords.

Its shoreline has steep rock walls marked by many valleys containing streams and rivers. Deeply cut ravines are typical and steep cliffs alternate with sandy beaches and meadows.

The fjord was designated as Sweden's first marine conservation area in 1983. The nature reserve covers {{Convert|16499|ha|abbr=on}} and parts of several municipalities. Because of the varying depths of the fjord the marine wildlife is abundant and diverse. There are many unique marine animals that are not found in the more shallow areas of the fjord. The shallow waters also provide habitat for a broad range of bird species. Three scientific research stations have been established in the conservation area.