Gunnar Sætren
Encyclopedia
Gunnar Sætren was a Norwegian engineer, manager and magazine editor. He was an important figure at Kanalvæsenet
for more than forty years, and made several contributions to the exploitation of Norwegian water resources.
as the son of farmer Carsten Sæthren and Kari Nordby. He married Inger Marie Gundersen in 1897. He died in Aker
in 1928.
and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
from 1862 to 1865. In 1866 he started working as a draftsman for Kanalvæsenet
, the body for exploitation of Norwegian water resources, and held various positions at Kanalvæsenet over a period of 41 years. He ended his career as manager for the Bandak-Norsjø Canal
from 1891 to 1907. The boat locks
of the Bandak-Norsjø Canal could lift boats with a length of up to 100 feet. The canal became an important water transport system, and also a tourist destination. Sætren was a councellor for industrialist Sam Eyde
, the founder and fist mangager of Norsk Hydro
, who acquired rights for exploiting waterfalls for hydroelectric power. Sætren published maps and overviews of water resources in Norway, such as his map from 1904. He was the first editor of the magazine Norsk Teknisk Tidsskrift
, which he edited from 1883 to 1886. He was also a proponent for the construction of the Holmenkoll Line, and chaired the board of directors for ten years from 1896. He was decorated Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1893.
Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate is a Norwegian government agency established in 1921. It is under the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and regulates the country's water resources and energy supply. Its mandate includes contingency planning for floods, serving as a centre of...
for more than forty years, and made several contributions to the exploitation of Norwegian water resources.
Personal life
Sætren was born in ElverumElverum
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Elverum...
as the son of farmer Carsten Sæthren and Kari Nordby. He married Inger Marie Gundersen in 1897. He died in Aker
Aker, Norway
Aker is a former municipality in Akershus, which lends its name to a municipality and a county in Norway. The name originally belonged to a farm which was located near the current Old Aker Church...
in 1928.
Career
Sætren studied at Lillehammer Latin- og Realskole, at Qvams skole in ChristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
from 1862 to 1865. In 1866 he started working as a draftsman for Kanalvæsenet
Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate is a Norwegian government agency established in 1921. It is under the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and regulates the country's water resources and energy supply. Its mandate includes contingency planning for floods, serving as a centre of...
, the body for exploitation of Norwegian water resources, and held various positions at Kanalvæsenet over a period of 41 years. He ended his career as manager for the Bandak-Norsjø Canal
Telemark canal
The Telemark Canal connects Skien to Dalen in southern Norway by linking up several long lakes using a series of 18 locks. It originally consisted of two canals: The Norsjø-Skien Canal, with locks in Skien and Løveid was built in the period 1854–1861, and is the oldest of the two canals.The...
from 1891 to 1907. The boat locks
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
of the Bandak-Norsjø Canal could lift boats with a length of up to 100 feet. The canal became an important water transport system, and also a tourist destination. Sætren was a councellor for industrialist Sam Eyde
Sam Eyde
Samuel Eyde was a Norwegian engineer and industrialist, the founder of Norsk Hydro and Elkem.-Biography:Sam Eyde was the son of a shipowner, and studied engineering in Berlin where he graduated in 1891. He started his career in Hamburg, working with the railways where he planned new lines, bridges...
, the founder and fist mangager of Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro
Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy company, headquartered in Oslo. Hydro is the fourth largest integrated aluminium company worldwide. It has operations in some 40 countries around the world and is active on all continents. The Norwegian state holds a 43.8 percent...
, who acquired rights for exploiting waterfalls for hydroelectric power. Sætren published maps and overviews of water resources in Norway, such as his map from 1904. He was the first editor of the magazine Norsk Teknisk Tidsskrift
Teknisk Ukeblad
Teknisk Ukeblad is Norway's leading engineering journal.TU has appeared weekly since 13 April 1883 and is published by Ingeniørforlaget, jointly owned by three national professional associations of engineers and architects: the Norwegian Society of Engineers and Technologists , Tekna , and the...
, which he edited from 1883 to 1886. He was also a proponent for the construction of the Holmenkoll Line, and chaired the board of directors for ten years from 1896. He was decorated Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1893.