Sediment cores from two lakes, connected by a limed river, were analyzed for organic matter, calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and ion exchange capacity. The distribution of trace metals in the pristine upper lake is governed primarily by changes in the long distance atmospheric transported pollutants. In the lake down stream of the liming station the distribution of trace metals in sediments deposited before liming started (1985) is similar to that in the pristine lake. Liming of the connecting river raises the pH value by about 1.8 units from 5.1 enhancing the accumulation rate of trace metals in the downstream lake. Iron enriched acid insoluble particles are likely to be important carriers of trace metals. The liming agent itself is the most important source for Pb, while increased accumulation of Zn and Cd is caused primarily by enhanced scavenging of dissolved metals. For Cu the two sources are of about equal importance.