  The energy dependence of the total cross section for the pp \to pK^+\Lambda
reaction was measured in the threshold region covering the excess energy range
up to 7MeV.
  Existing model calculations describe the slope of the measured cross sections
well, but are too low by a factor of two to three in rate.
  The data were used for a precise determination of the beam momentum of the
COSY-synchrotron.
