Ranelva
Encyclopedia
Ranelva is a 130 km long river in the municipality of Rana
, and is one of the longest rivers in the county of Nordland
, Norway
. The river begins on Saltfjellet
, in the borders between Norway and Sweden
, and flows northwestwards under the name Randalselv (Sami: Goabdesjåhkå). Ranelva begins where Randalselva and the river Gubbeltåga meets. The river flows mainly in a western-southwestern direction.
On its way southwestwards, the river absorbs Virvasselva
from south. The part of the river between its beginning and its meeting with Virvasselva
is called Ruovadajåhkå in Sami.
At Storvoll it absorbs the rivers Bjøllåga, Tespa and Stormdalsåga from the north, and Messingåga
from the south. It continues in a southwestern direction through Dunderlandsdal
, where it from east absorbs the rivers Grønfjellåga
and Plura.
Southwest of the small village Røssvoll, Ranelva meets the river of Langvassåga
from the lake Langvatnet
. Further down, at Selfors
, it absorbs the river Revelelva
(the name of the lowest parts of the river Tverråga
). Ranelva has its outlet in Ranfjord
at Fossetangen on Selfors.
The catchment area of the river is 3790 km². Before the power stations of Reinforsen (1925) and Langvatnet (1964) were built, the catchment area was 3843 km².
Ranelva is a popular river for fishers. It is very rich on salmon
and trout
. One of the largest salmon tunnels in Norway (385 meters long) is located at the waterfall Reinforsen, and was built in 1956.
Ranelva was cleansed with rotenone
in 1996, 2004 and 2005 beneath the waterfall
Sjøforsen, in order to remove the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris
, registered there for the first time in 1975.
Rana, Norway
Rana is the second largest municipality in Nordland county – and the third largest in North Norway – by population. By area, Rana is largest in Norway south of Finnmark , taking in large areas of mountains and forested valleys. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region...
, and is one of the longest rivers in the county of Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
, 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 river begins on Saltfjellet
Saltfjellet
Saltfjellet is a mountain area in Nordland, Norway that separates the two regions of Helgeland and Salten. It is also a cultural border between the Southern and Central parts of Sápmi.-Geography and environment:...
, in the borders between Norway and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and flows northwestwards under the name Randalselv (Sami: Goabdesjåhkå). Ranelva begins where Randalselva and the river Gubbeltåga meets. The river flows mainly in a western-southwestern direction.
On its way southwestwards, the river absorbs Virvasselva
Virvasselva
Virvasselva is a river in Rana municipality in Nordland, Norway. The river flows out of the eastern part of Virvatnet. The river Boneselva meets Virvasselva in the delta area around 1 km east of the lake Virvatnet, and the brook Sørbekken also flows out of Virvatnet and meets Virvasselva...
from south. The part of the river between its beginning and its meeting with Virvasselva
Virvasselva
Virvasselva is a river in Rana municipality in Nordland, Norway. The river flows out of the eastern part of Virvatnet. The river Boneselva meets Virvasselva in the delta area around 1 km east of the lake Virvatnet, and the brook Sørbekken also flows out of Virvatnet and meets Virvasselva...
is called Ruovadajåhkå in Sami.
At Storvoll it absorbs the rivers Bjøllåga, Tespa and Stormdalsåga from the north, and Messingåga
Messingåga
Messingåga is a 50,67 km² river which flows northwards, ending up as a contributary to Ranelva at Hjartåsen in the small village of Storvoll in Dunderlandsdal in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway....
from the south. It continues in a southwestern direction through Dunderlandsdal
Dunderlandsdal
Dunderlandsdalen is a valley in Rana municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway. From just below the plateau of eastern Saltfjellet, it continues south-westward to the Ranfjord...
, where it from east absorbs the rivers Grønfjellåga
Grønfjellåga
Grønfjellåga is a river in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river has its outlet in the lakes of kallvatnet and kopparvatnet, flows through Grønfjelldalen and absorbs several smaller rivers, before it flows out as a contributary to Ranelva at the waterfall of Dunderforsen ....
and Plura.
Southwest of the small village Røssvoll, Ranelva meets the river of Langvassåga
Langvassåga
Langvassåga is the outlet river flowing from Langvatnet in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. It flows in a southeastern direction, and continues as a tributary to Ranelva, south of Røssvoll.Langvassåga has a catchment area of 1114 km²....
from the lake Langvatnet
Langvatnet (Rana)
Langvatnet is a Norwegian lake in Rana municipality in Nordland....
. Further down, at Selfors
Selfors
Selfors is an urban district, 4 km east of Mo i Rana, Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The European route E6 passes through the district. Selfors has been inhabited since the Iron age.-The name:...
, it absorbs the river Revelelva
Revelelva
Revelelva is the native name of the lowest part of the river Tverråga, which has its outlet in Ranelva in Rana municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The river change its name at the bridge connecting European route E6 with Gruben. Before this bridge it is called Tverråga. Passing this bridge, it...
(the name of the lowest parts of the river Tverråga
Tverråga
Tverråga is a river which has its outlet in Ranelva, in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river flows from Tverrvatnet. The river absorbs seven other rivers, the last one at Hamaren on Gruben....
). Ranelva has its outlet in Ranfjord
Ranfjord
The Ranfjord is a fjord in the Helgeland district. The largest part of the fjord is in Rana municipality, Nordland county, Norway. The Ranelva meets the Ranfjord in Mo i Rana at the head of the fjord....
at Fossetangen on Selfors.
The catchment area of the river is 3790 km². Before the power stations of Reinforsen (1925) and Langvatnet (1964) were built, the catchment area was 3843 km².
Ranelva is a popular river for fishers. It is very rich on salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
and trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
. One of the largest salmon tunnels in Norway (385 meters long) is located at the waterfall Reinforsen, and was built in 1956.
Ranelva was cleansed with rotenone
Rotenone
Rotenone is an odorless chemical that is used as a broad-spectrum insecticide, piscicide, and pesticide. It occurs naturally in the roots and stems of several plants such as the jicama vine plant...
in 1996, 2004 and 2005 beneath the waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
Sjøforsen, in order to remove the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris
Gyrodactylus salaris
Gyrodactylus salaris is a small monogenean ectoparasite which mainly lives on the skin of freshwater fish, especially Atlantic salmon. This species is a leech-like parasite that has been implicated in some diminution of Atlantic salmon populations in the Norwegian fjords. Its common name is Salmon...
, registered there for the first time in 1975.
Literature
- Lars-Evan Petterson: Flomsonekartprosjektet Flomberegning for Ranelva (156.Z), Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat, Dokument nr 1, January 2004, ISSN 1501-2840
- Bevaringsgruppa, Rana: Ranaelva. Plan for fiskebevaringsarbeid og dødfiskoppsamling i forbindelse med rotenonbehandlingen 2003-04