Hallingdalselva
Encyclopedia
Hallingdalselva is a river which flows through the valley
and traditional district
of Hallingdal
in Buskerud
County, Norway
.
The Hallingdal River rises from within the Hardangervidda
mountain plateau. Hallingdal River is formed by the confluence of the Usta River which flows from Lake Ustevatn
and the Holselva River from Lake Strandavatnet
. Hallingdal River flows from the north into Lake Krøderen
(Krøderfjorden) at Gulsvik
. Lake Krøderen discharges via the Snarumselva (Snamum river) at the south end of the lake.
A number of rivers flow into the Hallingdal River including the Votna
, Lya
, Hemsil, Todøla and Rukkedøla. Hallingdal River has a total length of 220 km and a catchment area 4587 km2. The river falls 318 metres in its journey to Krøderen which is 132 metres above sea-level. There are many hydro-electric power stations in the valley with an annual power production of about 4 TWh. The whole river system is now almost fully developed with a total of 13 power plants. The largest plants are Hol I-III (275 MW), Nes (250 MW), Usta (184 MW) and Hemsil I-II (152 MW). The total average annual production is approx. 4143 GWh. Most of the waterfall rights are owned by E-CO Energi
.
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
and traditional district
Districts of Norway
The country Norway is historically divided into a number of districts. Many districts have deep historical roots, and only partially coincide with today's administrative units of counties and municipalities. The districts are defined by geographical features, often valleys, mountain ranges, fjords,...
of Hallingdal
Hallingdal
Hallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
in Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
County, Norway
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 Hallingdal River rises from within the Hardangervidda
Hardangervidda
The Hardangervidda is a mountain plateau in the Hardanger region of western Norway. It is the largest such plateau in Europe, with a cold year-round alpine climate and is the site of one of Norway's largest glaciers. Much of the plateau is protected as part of Hardangervidda National Park; it is a...
mountain plateau. Hallingdal River is formed by the confluence of the Usta River which flows from Lake Ustevatn
Ustevatn
Ustevatn is a lake in the municipality of Hol in Buskerud county, Norway....
and the Holselva River from Lake Strandavatnet
Strandavatnet
Strandavatnet is a lake in Hol municipality, Buskerud county, Norway. The lake covers an area of , and lies above sea level.'The lake is a reservoir for the Rud hydroelectric powerstation in Hovet. In 1952/1953 a dam was constructed which lifted the lake level 28 meters, thus the lake varies...
. Hallingdal River flows from the north into Lake Krøderen
Krøderen (lake)
Krøderen, sometimes called Krøderfjorden, is a lake in Buskerud, Norway.The lake stretches about north from the village of Krøderen in Krødsherad on it southern end and reaches north to the village of Gulsvik in Flå municipality in the valley of Hallingdal. The lake has a surface area of 42.88...
(Krøderfjorden) at Gulsvik
Gulsvik
Gulsvik is a village in Flå, Buskerud, Norway. The name Gulsvik is connected to the original farm of Gulsvik. The Gulsvik farm was known from the middle ages, when the owners were among the most prominent people in lower Hallingdal. Gulsvik is reckoned to be an old Norwegian folkland, which never...
. Lake Krøderen discharges via the Snarumselva (Snamum river) at the south end of the lake.
A number of rivers flow into the Hallingdal River including the Votna
Votna
Votna is a lake in the municipality of Odda in Hordaland county, Norway....
, Lya
Lya
Lya may refer to:* LYA , the 4th busiest airport in China* Lya , a fictional character* Lya , a feminine given name...
, Hemsil, Todøla and Rukkedøla. Hallingdal River has a total length of 220 km and a catchment area 4587 km2. The river falls 318 metres in its journey to Krøderen which is 132 metres above sea-level. There are many hydro-electric power stations in the valley with an annual power production of about 4 TWh. The whole river system is now almost fully developed with a total of 13 power plants. The largest plants are Hol I-III (275 MW), Nes (250 MW), Usta (184 MW) and Hemsil I-II (152 MW). The total average annual production is approx. 4143 GWh. Most of the waterfall rights are owned by E-CO Energi
E-CO Energi
E-CO Energi is a Norwegian power company and after Statkraft the second largest producer of electricity in Norway.-Structure:E-CO is wholly owned by the City of Oslo. Operations are divided into E-CO Vannkraft, E-CO Norne and Oslo Lysverker...
.