Glomma
Encyclopedia
The Glomma or Glåma is the longest and largest river in Norway
. The 598 kilometres (371.6 mi) long river has a drainage basin
that covers a full 13% of Norway's area, all in the southern part of Norway.
At its fullest length, the river runs from the lake Aursund
near Røros
in Sør-Trøndelag
and runs into the Oslofjord
at Fredrikstad
. Major tributaries include the Vorma
River, which drains Lake Mjøsa
, joining the Glomma River at Nes
. The Lågen
drains into Lake Mjøsa, collecting drainage from the large Gudbrandsdal
valley and significantly increasing the Glomma's flow.
Because it flows through some of the richest forest districts, it has historically been Norway's leading log floating river. The combination of raw materials, water power, and easy transport has over the centuries encouraged industry along the Glomma. Some of the country's largest manufacturing and processing concerns are found around its mouth, where supplies of timber and hydropower
have been backed by excellent port facilities.
The upper limit of the Glomma valley
farms is variable, but typically runs about 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) in Østerdalen
, slightly lower than in Gudbrandsdal
, which reflects the colder climate. The treeline, with a light birch forest, rises to about 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) in Østerdalen. Above Røros
the forest is restricted to the valley floor.
The upper river valleys of Norwegian rivers have distinctive names which are vestiges of earlier cultural distinctions such as building styles, traditional clothing or bunad
and domestic crafts. The upper valley of the Glomma is the Østerdal (or East Valley).
Upon entering Lake Øyeren at Fetsund
, the Glomma has formed Europe's largest inland delta which reaches the opposite side of the lake, across its short axis. Some of the vast amount of silt
that the Glomma deposits in Lake Øyeren is extracted to manufacture LECA building blocks
widely used for in the construction of foundations in Norway.
and Akershus
counties, while in Hedmark
and Sør-Trøndelag
counties the river is called (and written) Glåma. The old form was Glaumr which comes from raumr, meaning a "loud noise" or "thunder".
Several places are named after the river, for instance Glåmdal
and Glåmos
.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The 598 kilometres (371.6 mi) long river has a drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
that covers a full 13% of Norway's area, all in the southern part of Norway.
Geography
Aursund
Aursunden is a lake in the municipality of Røros in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. The village of Brekken lies along the eastern shore and Glåmos lies along the western shore....
near Røros
Røros
is a town and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Gauldalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Røros. Other villages include Brekken, Glåmos, Feragen, Galåa, and Hitterdalen....
in Sør-Trøndelag
Sør-Trøndelag
- References :...
and runs into the Oslofjord
Oslofjord
The Oslofjord is a bay in the south-east of Norway, stretching from an imaginary line between the Torbjørnskjær and Færder lighthouses and down to Langesund in the south to Oslo in the north....
at Fredrikstad
Fredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
. Major tributaries include the Vorma
Vorma
Vorma is a river in Norway that brings water from lake Mjøsa into the Glomma river. The Vorma is 30 kilometers long and flows through the town of Eidsvoll. The Vorma goes from Lake Mjøsa via Minnesund to join with the Glomma at Årnes....
River, which drains Lake Mjøsa
Mjøsa
Mjøsa is Norway's largest lake, as well as one of the deepest lakes in Norway and in Europe as a whole, after Hornindalsvatnet. It is located in the southern part of Norway, about 100 km north of Oslo...
, joining the Glomma River at Nes
Nes, Akershus
Nes is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Årnes.-Name:...
. The Lågen
Gudbrandsdalslågen
The Gudbrandsdalslågen river flows through the Gudbrandsdal of Norway.The Gudbrandsdalslågen begins in the lake Lesjaskogsvatnet , which lies in Lesja municipality in Oppland. Lesjavatn is the only lake in Norway which has two outlets; they flow into two of Norway’s more famous rivers...
drains into Lake Mjøsa, collecting drainage from the large Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
valley and significantly increasing the Glomma's flow.
Because it flows through some of the richest forest districts, it has historically been Norway's leading log floating river. The combination of raw materials, water power, and easy transport has over the centuries encouraged industry along the Glomma. Some of the country's largest manufacturing and processing concerns are found around its mouth, where supplies of timber and hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
have been backed by excellent port facilities.
The upper limit of the Glomma valley
Glommadal
Glommadal is a valley in Norway formed by the river Glomma . Glåmdalen is also a newer designation for the traditional district around the river Glomma, especially Odalen, Solør and in a wider sense the name is used also by Østerdalen.-Geography:From Lake Aursund in the north on south to Elverum,...
farms is variable, but typically runs about 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) in Østerdalen
Østerdalen
Østerdalen is a valley and traditional district in Hedmark County, in Eastern Norway. It consisting of the municipalities Rendalen, Alvdal, Folldal,Tynset, Tolga and Os in the north, Elverum, Stor-Elvdal, Engerdal, Trysil and Åmot in the south.-Geography:...
, slightly lower than in Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
, which reflects the colder climate. The treeline, with a light birch forest, rises to about 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) in Østerdalen. Above Røros
Røros
is a town and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Gauldalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Røros. Other villages include Brekken, Glåmos, Feragen, Galåa, and Hitterdalen....
the forest is restricted to the valley floor.
The upper river valleys of Norwegian rivers have distinctive names which are vestiges of earlier cultural distinctions such as building styles, traditional clothing or bunad
Bunad
Bunad is an umbrella term encompassing, in its broadest sense, a range of both traditional rural garments as well modern 20th century folk costumes. In its narrow sense the word Bunad does only refer to garments constructed in the early 20th century very loosely based on tradition...
and domestic crafts. The upper valley of the Glomma is the Østerdal (or East Valley).
Upon entering Lake Øyeren at Fetsund
Fetsund
Fetsund forms the center of the municipality Fet in the county of Akershus, Norway. The name comes from the way the area is, and Fet means "where water meets grass". As for the -sund part, it simply means 'strait, inlet'...
, the Glomma has formed Europe's largest inland delta which reaches the opposite side of the lake, across its short axis. Some of the vast amount of silt
Silt
Silt is granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt may occur as a soil or as suspended sediment in a surface water body...
that the Glomma deposits in Lake Øyeren is extracted to manufacture LECA building blocks
Ex-clay
Expanded-clay aggregate, or "exclay", is a lightweight ceramic aggregate , used in construction and hydroponics.It is produced by processing natural clay which is finished to the shape of round pellets. The clay is expanded by thermal treatment in a rotating kiln operating at temperatures about...
widely used for in the construction of foundations in Norway.
Name
The form Glomma is used in ØstfoldØstfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
and Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
counties, while in Hedmark
Hedmark
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Akershus. The county administration is in Hamar.Hedmark makes up the northeastern part of Østlandet, the southeastern part of the country. It includes a long part of the borderline with Sweden, Dalarna County and Värmland County. The...
and Sør-Trøndelag
Sør-Trøndelag
- References :...
counties the river is called (and written) Glåma. The old form was Glaumr which comes from raumr, meaning a "loud noise" or "thunder".
Several places are named after the river, for instance Glåmdal
Glåmdal
Glåmdalen is a traditional district in Hedmark county in Eastern Norway. It comprises the municipalities of Eidskog and Kongsvinger. The regional center is the city of Kongsvinger...
and Glåmos
Glåmos
Glåmos is a village and former municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was located in the northwestern part of the present-day municipality of Røros. The village of Glåmos is located along the river Glåma, just west of the lake Aursund and about north of the town of Røros...
.