Nitelva
Encyclopedia
Nitelva is a river
which rises at Grua
which runs down to Harestuvatnet in the southern part of Lunner
municipality in Oppland
. The river then flows southwards and ends at Øyeren
. The river has at this point run for around 37 km, and has dropped around 30 metres. The river is part of the Oslomarkavassdragene.
The northern part of Nitelva runs between Hakadal
and is called Hakadalselva. The journey to Øyeren begins with rapids, before slowing to a broad meander
ing river through Nittedal
. The last kilometres of the river run through Skedsmo
and Rælingen
municipalities, first as a scenic part of Lillestrøm
city and Øvre Rælingen with roads on both banks, passing through an industrialised area before ending at the delta in the north of Øyeren in Rælingen
. Nitelva and its banks make up a varied and fertile belt through forests, agricultural landscapes and buildings.
The river was originally named Nitja. The meaning of the name is unknown, but it may come from the word net, in the sense of fishing net. It may also come from the verb hnita, which means "to clash" (meaning waves that clash together). The river is an important part of the local environment, and the watercourse has been used for timber mills, power, and factories. Many places along the Nitelva have remains of these activities, and their influence is still seen in place names.
The river is well known for sports fishing. Up until Rotnesfossen can be found many of Norway's freshwater fish
, and 21 species are recorded. Among these are northern pike
, zander
, perch
and carp
. To the north of the watercourse can also be found brown trout
. Along the river, one can also find a rich and varied animal, bird and plant life, and it has an important ecological function as a habitat and dispersal corridor for several species. Here you can experience both the dense spruce
forests, lush deciduous forests, marsh
es, flower beds, juncus
and water plants. The animal and bird species along the river include beaver
, grey heron
and deer
. Because of its biological diversity, Nitelva is a protected waterway, and in the lower part of the river, there are two nature reserves; Sørumsneset and Nordre Øyeren nature reserve.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
which rises at Grua
Grua
Grua is a village in the municipality of Lunner, Norway. Its population is 1,477. Mining is historically important, and Norway's oldest registered iron mine is located here....
which runs down to Harestuvatnet in the southern part of Lunner
Lunner
Lunner is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hadeland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Roa...
municipality in Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
. The river then flows southwards and ends at Øyeren
Øyeren
Øyeren is a lake in the Glomma river watershed, southeast of Lillestrøm. It is located within the municipalities of Enebakk, Skedsmo, Fet and Rælingen in Akershus county and Spydeberg and Trøgstad municipalities in Østfold county....
. The river has at this point run for around 37 km, and has dropped around 30 metres. The river is part of the Oslomarkavassdragene.
The northern part of Nitelva runs between Hakadal
Hakadal
Hakadal is a village in Akershus, Norway....
and is called Hakadalselva. The journey to Øyeren begins with rapids, before slowing to a broad meander
Meander
A meander in general is a bend in a sinuous watercourse. A meander is formed when the moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the...
ing river through Nittedal
Nittedal
Nittedal 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 Rotnes....
. The last kilometres of the river run through Skedsmo
Skedsmo
Skedsmo is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillestrøm. About one third of the municipal population lives in Lillestrøm. Other important towns are Skedsmokorset, Skjetten and...
and Rælingen
Rælingen
Rælingen is a village and municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fjerdingby. Rælingen was separated from the municipality of Fet on 1 July 1929.-Name:The name is first mentioned...
municipalities, first as a scenic part of Lillestrøm
Lillestrøm
' is a city in the municipality of Skedsmo, Akershus, Norway. The municipal administration is located in Lillestrøm.Facilities in Lillestrøm include hotels, Norway trade fairs, a brand new cinema, a mall, Lillestrøm torv, restaurants, a high speed commuter train that reaches both Oslo and...
city and Øvre Rælingen with roads on both banks, passing through an industrialised area before ending at the delta in the north of Øyeren in Rælingen
Rælingen
Rælingen is a village and municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Romerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Fjerdingby. Rælingen was separated from the municipality of Fet on 1 July 1929.-Name:The name is first mentioned...
. Nitelva and its banks make up a varied and fertile belt through forests, agricultural landscapes and buildings.
The river was originally named Nitja. The meaning of the name is unknown, but it may come from the word net, in the sense of fishing net. It may also come from the verb hnita, which means "to clash" (meaning waves that clash together). The river is an important part of the local environment, and the watercourse has been used for timber mills, power, and factories. Many places along the Nitelva have remains of these activities, and their influence is still seen in place names.
The river is well known for sports fishing. Up until Rotnesfossen can be found many of Norway's freshwater fish
Freshwater fish
Freshwater fish are fish that spend some or all of their lives in freshwater, such as rivers and lakes, with a salinity of less than 0.05%. These environments differ from marine conditions in many ways, the most obvious being the difference in levels of salinity...
, and 21 species are recorded. Among these are northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, zander
Zander
Zander is a species of fish. The scientific name is Sander lucioperca , and it is closely allied to perch. Zander are often called pike-perch as they resemble the pike with their elongated body and head, and the perch with their spiny dorsal fin. Zander are not, as is commonly believed, a pike and...
, perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
and carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
. To the north of the watercourse can also be found brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
. Along the river, one can also find a rich and varied animal, bird and plant life, and it has an important ecological function as a habitat and dispersal corridor for several species. Here you can experience both the dense spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
forests, lush deciduous forests, marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
es, flower beds, juncus
Juncus
Juncus is a genus in the plant family Juncaceae. It consists of some 200 to 300 or more species of grassy plants commonly called rushes...
and water plants. The animal and bird species along the river include beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
, grey heron
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
and deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
. Because of its biological diversity, Nitelva is a protected waterway, and in the lower part of the river, there are two nature reserves; Sørumsneset and Nordre Øyeren nature reserve.