Storå (Denmark)
The Storå ("Large Creek") or Storåen is Denmark's second longest river, spanning 104 kilometres (65 mi), and only surpassed by Gudenå. Storå originates southeast of Ikast, winding its way between Herning, Sunds, and Ørre. Then it winds through Nybro, Hodsager and Holstebro before ending up in Nissum Fjord.
Storå is one of Denmark's major rivers. Only Gudenå, Skjern River and Vidå are more water-rich. Storå in Holstebro city receives water from an area of 825 square kilometres (319 sq mi). This includes the sources of Vegen River and Lægård Bæk, both of which end in Storå in Holstebro's city center.
On every square meter of the surrounding area, there falls about 800 litres (210 US gal) of rain and snow per year, which corresponds to 80 centimetres (31 in) of water. About half of that evaporates, and the rest of it runs off through Storå via ground water and surface drainage. There must therefore be 0.4 m2 x 825 km2 = 330 million m3 of water flowing through Holstebro city every year. This corresponds to an average water flow of about 10 cubic metres per second (350 cu ft/s). Recent years have witnessed a slight increase in rainfall in West Jutland.
After Ørre, the river is so wide that it is possible to kayak. In Ørre, Sunds Nørreå comes together with Herningsholm river, so the water volume increases. After the city Vemb, the Lilleå is added onto the river.
In Holstebro, one can become a member of Kajakklubben Pagaj ("The Paddle Kayak Club") to rent a kayak and take a rowing tour.
Storå has been opened to canoeing, and one can take a trip with reasonable rest spots along the way, with about 10 kilometres (6 mi) between each spot. In Herning and Holstebro one can rent canoes from the tourist offices. It takes about three times as long to row the tour by canoe as by kayak.
In the western city boundary of Holstebro one can play golf at GOLFCLUB Storådalen's challenging courses, with water in play in 15 out of 18 holes.
External sources/references
56°06′N 9°18′E / 56.100°N 9.300°E
