Suldalslågen
Suldalslågen | |
---|---|
![]() View of the river | |
Location | |
Country | Norway |
County | Rogaland |
District | Ryfylke |
Municipality | Suldal |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Suldalsvatnet |
• location | Rogaland, Norway |
• coordinates | 59°31′35″N 06°35′56″E / 59.52639°N 6.59889°E |
• elevation | 69 m (226 ft) |
Mouth | Sandsfjorden |
• location | Sand, Rogaland, Norway |
• coordinates | 59°26′52″N 06°15′03″E / 59.44778°N 6.25083°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Length | 22 km (14 mi) |
Basin size | 1,463 km2 (565 sq mi) |
Discharge | |
• average | 50 m3/s (1,800 cu ft/s) |
The Suldalslågen (or locally, Lågen[1]) is a river that is located in the municipality of Suldal in Rogaland county, Norway. The 22-kilometre (14 mi) long river runs from the lake Suldalsvatnet to the southwest to the village of Sand where it empties into the Sandsfjorden. The Norwegian National Road 13 runs along the river, past the villages of Suldal and Sand.[2]
The Suldalslågen has a natural watershed of 1,463 square kilometres (565 sq mi), of which 75% is above the timber line in high mountain areas, making it western Norway's largest river system. The Suldalslågen and its upstream watercourses are heavily dammed and regulated (including transfer of water across catchment borders) for hydroelectric power generation, and represents about 6% of Norway's total hydroelectric power generation. The upper tributaries of the Suldalslågen are located on the vast Hardangervidda plateau in Odda (in Hordaland county) and Vinje (in Telemark county).[3][4]
The Suldalslågen one of Norway's most famous Atlantic salmon rivers, with a fishing history dating back hundreds of years.[4][5]
References
- ^ The word lågen means watercourse in the Norwegian language and appears as a suffix meaning river. Examples of this use include in Gudbrandsdalslågen, Numedalslågen, and Suldalslågen. Lågen is commonly used for each in their respective traditional district.
- ^ Store norske leksikon. "Suldalslågen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ^ "Suldalslågen - the river system". Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ^ a b Store norske leksikon. "Suldalsvassdraget" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ^ "Suldalsågen History". Retrieved 2015-05-18.