- a northern country with unique natural properties. Untouched forests, clean rivers and full-flowing lakes flowing at the foot of picturesque mountains make it attractive for all categories of tourists. According to some estimates, more than 400 thousand freshwater lakes of various sizes are located on the territory of this country, and each of them deserves attention.

Most of the water bodies of this country arose as a result of the melting of glaciers. Despite the common origin, all lakes in Norway differ in shape, length, depth and biodiversity. The reservoirs flowing along the mountain range are characterized by great depth, uneven bottom and many branches. The lakes located in the southern flat part of Norway are shallower but larger in area. From them, as a rule, wide full-flowing ones follow.

The largest lakes in Norway are located in the south - in Ostlan. Good drainage in the flat terrain has resulted in a huge amount of lowland swamps and wetlands.

In terms of terminology, the following types of lakes in Norway are distinguished:

List of largest lakes in Norway

On the territory of this northern country, a huge number of closed reservoirs with an area from several tens to several hundred square kilometers are scattered. The list of the largest lakes in Norway includes:

• (365 sq. km);
• Rosswatnet (218 sq. km);
• Femund (203 sq. km);
• Randsfjorden (139 sq. km);
• Tirifjorden (138 sq. km);
• Snasavatnet (121 sq. km) and others.

The total area of ​​all these reservoirs is approximately 17,100 square meters. km, and their total volume reaches 1200 cubic meters. km. Most big lake Norway, Mjesa, extends immediately into three Norwegian counties - Akershus, Oppland and Hedmark. Along its coast are the cities of Yevik, and.

The list of the deepest reservoirs in the country includes (514 m), Salsvatnet (482 m), Tinn (460) and Mjesa (444 m). The first, by the way, is the deepest not only in Norway, but throughout Europe.

by the most picturesque lake in Norway can be safely called (Bondhus), located in. It was formed as a result of the melting of the glacier of the same name. The list of the longest lakes in Norway is headed by. With a width of 6 km, it stretched from east to west for a distance of 204 km.

Border lakes of Norway

In the northwest of the country there is a small reservoir Treriksröset. This lake is notable for being located on the border of Norway, Sweden and Finland. In the place where the borders of the three states converge, in 1897 a stone commemorative sign. For 120 years, the monument has changed more than once. Now it is a domed artificial one, which often becomes the object of photo shoots for tourists.

There are many lakes in Norway and on the border with Russia. Bossojavre, Vouvatusjärvi, Grensevatn, Kattolampolo, Klistervatn and others can be included in this category.

Norway is a country in the west and far north of the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Its area is 385.2 thousand km, together with 50 thousand islands in the Atlantic and North Arctic oceans. Most of the country is occupied by the Scandinavian mountains, as a result of which most of the rivers flowing through its territory have a mountainous flow character, they are rapids, swift, full-flowing, have a relatively short length, they have many waterfalls. About 5% of the territory of Norway is occupied by lakes of medium or small size, located mainly in the south of the country, in total there are about four hundred thousand.

Major rivers in Norway

Norway is distinguished by the presence of a dense river network, the rivers are of considerable depth, narrow valleys, they have many rapids and drops, they are full-flowing all year round. Their high level fall makes them very promising for electricity generation. The largest rivers flow in the southeastern part of the country, these are Glomma, Klarelven, Tanaelv, Drammenselva, Logen (Numedalslogen), Otra, Altaelv.

On the territory of Norway, this is the longest river, its length is 604 km, the catchment area is 42441 km 2 (13% of the territory of Norway). It flows in the east of the country, originates in Lake Aursund, flows into the Oslo Fjord of the Norwegian Sea. A number of power plants have been built along the river.

It flows from Lake Rugen, located on the border of Norway and Sweden at an altitude of 662 meters above sea level. Its length is 406 km, the catchment area is 11820 km2. It originates in Sweden, flows through the territory of Norway, then turns back to Sweden and flows into Lake Vänern there, thus the Klar-Elven-Göta-Elv river system is the longest in the Scandinavian Peninsula (more than 750 km). Previously, the river was used to float timber.

The river on the border of Norway and Finland is 348 km long and has a catchment area of ​​16374 km2. It is formed by the confluence of the rivers Inarijokki and Karasjokka 12 km east of the Norwegian city of Karasjok. It flows into the bay of the Barents Sea called Tanafjord, forming a wide delta, which is called the largest untouched river delta in Europe. The river is home to large Atlantic salmon, its commercial catch is of great economic importance in the country's economy.

One of the largest rivers in Norway, its length is 308 km, the catchment area is 17 thousand km 2. It flows from Lake Tyuriford in Norway, flows into the Drams-Elv River near the city of Drammen, located 40 km from Oslo, the capital of Norway.

Logen (Numedalslogen)

It flows in the south-east of the countries, has a length of 359 km, the catchment area is 5.5 thousand km 2. Its source is located on the Hardangervidde mountain chamber in western Norway, flows from west to south, flows into the North Sea.

The largest river in the southern part of the country, the length is 245 km, the catchment area is 3.7 thousand km 2. It flows out of Lake Breidvatn, flows into the Skagerrak Strait, which connects the North Sea with the Baltic. In the vicinity of the river, 12 power plants have been built that produce electricity for the entire south of Norway.

It flows in the north of the country, length - 229 km, basin area - 8.9 thousand km 2. It flows into the Alta Fjord near the city of Alta on the coast of the Norwegian Sea.

Large lakes in Norway

Norway can be safely called a country of lakes, on its territory there are about 400 thousand lakes of small size, elongated shape, of glacial origin and occupying almost 5% of the entire area of ​​​​the state. The largest lakes are Mjosa, Femunn, Rössvatn, Rannesfjorden, Tyurifjord.

The largest lake in the country, its area is 365.19 km 2, length - 117 km, maximum width - 15 km, depth - up to 468 meters. It is located in the southern part of Norway, 100 km north of Oslo. The river Gudbrandsdalslogen flows in in the north, flows out in the south - Vorma (a tributary of the Glomma).

The second largest lake in Norway after Mjosa, the area is 219 km 2, the length of the coastline is 256.3 km, the maximum depth is 240 meters. Located in the northern part of the country.

The third largest lake in Norway after Mjosa and Rösswaten, area 203.5 km 2, coastline length -235 km, maximum depth -131 meters. It is located in the east of the country, in the deserted areas bordering Sweden. The Trysiljälv River flows out of the lake and then flows into Lake Vänern in Sweden. The lake is rich in valuable commercial fish species of the salmon family.

The fourth largest lake in Norway after the lakes described above, the area is 138 km 2, the length of the coastline is 202 km, the maximum depth is 120 meters. Located in the east of the country.

The fifth largest lake in Norway, its area is 136 km 2, the maximum depth is -295 meters. Located in the province of Baskerud (eastern part of the country).

• Altevatn
  Lake in Norway. Located in the county of Troms. The area of ​​the lake is 79.7 km². Located at an altitude of 489 m above sea level. The greatest depth is 99 m. It is the eleventh largest lake in the country. Lake Altevatn stretches for 35 km in length and on average about 2 km in width. The Barduelva River originates from the lake.
• bannack
  Lake in Norway. Located in the municipalities of Kviteseid and Tokke. The area of ​​the lake is 26.4 km². Located at an altitude of 72 m above sea level. The waters of the lake are used by the local hydroelectric power plant for energy production. The greatest depth is 325 m. The total length of the coastline is 60.16 km.
• Bossoyawrre
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. The Russian part of the lake administratively belongs to the Pechenga district of the Murmansk region, the Norwegian part belongs to the municipality of Sør-Varanger county Finnmark. The area of ​​the lake is 16.4 km², of which 8.11 km² is in Russia. Located at an altitude of 51.9 m above sea level. It is a support for the Skogfoss hydroelectric power station.
• Breimsvatn
  Lake. Located in Norway. Located in the municipality of Gloppen. Area 22.52 km². Located at an altitude of 62 m above sea level. The greatest depth is 278 m. The total length of the coastline is 42.97 km.
• Byugdin
  Lake in Norway, in the county of Oppland. Located on the territory mountain range Jotunheimen. The area of ​​its mirror is 46 km². The lake stretches from east to west for 25 km, its width is small. Located at an altitude of 1048 m above sea level. The greatest depth is 215 m.
• Byglansfjord
  Lake. Located in Norway. Located in the municipality of Bygland. Area 32.49 km². Located at an altitude of 203 m above sea level. The total length of the coastline is 87.57 km.
• Vouvatusjärvi
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively included in Murmansk region Russia and the Sør-Varanger commune of Norway. The area is 33.87 km², of which 4.88 are in Russia. Located at an altitude of 51.9 m above sea level.
• Grensevatn
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively, it is part of the Murmansk region of Russia and the commune of Sør-Varanger in Norway. Located at an altitude of 70.3 m above sea level.
• Drewvatnet
  A lake located in the municipality of Vefsn, Nordland county in Norway. Area 4.93 km². Located at an altitude of 48 m above sea level. The total length of the coastline is 11.74 km.
• Yieshyavre
  Lake in the north of Norway in Finnmark county. The name of the lake is of Sami origin and means "high water". The lake lies at an altitude of 390 m above sea level on the Finnmarksvidda (Finmarken) plateau, 40 km southeast of the southern tip of the Alta Fjord and 50 km southwest of the southern tip of the Porsanger Fjord. The area of ​​the lake is 68.4 km².
• Cattolampolo
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively, it is part of the Murmansk region of Russia and the commune of Sør-Varanger in Norway. The area is 5.49 km², of which 1.24 are in Russia. Located at an altitude of 51.9 m above sea level. The lake belongs to the basin Barents Sea, is connected with it by the Pasvik river. The lake is fed mainly by snow and rain. The relief of the coast is flat. Forests on the banks consist mainly of birch and pine. The Wackerstrykene mountains stand out on the eastern coast. There are several islands on the lake, the largest are Grasholmen and Sauholmen. The lake is connected upstream along the Paz River to Lake Vouvatusjärvi, and downstream to Lake Bossojavre.
• Klistervatn
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively, it is part of the Murmansk region of Russia and the commune of Sør-Varanger in Norway. The area is 17.2 km², of which 12.75 are in Norway. Located at an altitude of 21 m above sea level.
• Kontiojärvi
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively, it is part of the Murmansk region of Russia and the commune of Sør-Varanger in Norway. The area is 17.2 km², of which 4.45 are in Russia. Located at an altitude of 21 m above sea level.
• Kroederen
  A lake located in the province of Buskerud, Norway. Located north of the village of the same name. The area is 42 km². Located at an altitude of 132 m above sea level. The greatest depth is 119 m. The total length of the coastline is 113.81 km. The largest tributary is the Hallingdal River, the largest outflowing river is the Snarumselva.
• langvatn
  A lake located in the commune of Fauske, Nordland county in Norway. Area 5.46 km². Located at an altitude of 127 m above sea level. The total length of the coastline is 25.82 km.
• Lomivatn
  A lake located in the commune of Fauske, Nordland county in Norway. Area 11.43 km². Located at an altitude of 709 m above sea level. The total length of the coastline is 21.95 km.
• Mösvatn
  One of the largest lakes in the southeast of Norway, with an area of ​​more than 78 sq. km. Located in the county of Telemark. Several archaeological sites are scattered along the banks of the reservoir in the form of sites of an ancient man of the Stone Age. The waters of the lake are used by the local hydroelectric power plant for energy production.
• Myosa
  The largest lake in Norway. Located in the southern part of Norway, about 100 km north of Oslo. The main river flowing into the lake is Gudbrandsdalslogen in the north; the main outflowing river is the Vorma (a tributary of the Glomma) in the south.
• Nedrevatn
  A lake located in the commune of Fauske, Nordland county in Norway. Area 4.80 km². Located at an altitude of 0 m above sea level. The total length of the coastline is 14.06 km.
• Nisser
  Alpine lake in the southwestern part of Norway. Located in Nissedal, Telemark county. It is the 13th largest among the largest in the country in terms of water surface area of ​​76.30 km², volume - 7.19 cubic meters. km, and the greatest depth is 234 m.
• rannsfjorden
  The fourth largest lake in Norway. It is located in the county (fylke) of Oppland and the borders of the municipalities of Gran, Evnaker. The area of ​​the lake is 138 km². It is located at an altitude of 135 m above sea level. The water volume of the lake is estimated at about 7 km². The greatest depth is 120 m. The total length of the coastline is 202.9 km.
• Rösswatn
  The second largest lake in Norway after Mjøsa. It is located in the county of Nordland, in the north of the country. The area of ​​the lake is 219 km². It is located at an altitude of 374 m above sea level. The volume of lake water is estimated at about 15 km². The greatest depth is 240 m. The total length of the coastline is 256.3 km.
• Rugen
  Lake on the border of Sweden and Norway. The largest part is located in the Swedish county of Jämtland, the smaller one in the Norwegian counties of Hedmark and Sør-Trønnelag. The area of ​​the lake is 35.12 km². The Norwegian part of the lake lies in national park Femunnsmarka, Swedish is located in the Rugen nature reserve.
• Salmijärvi
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively, it is part of the Murmansk region of Russia and the commune of Sør-Varanger in Norway. The area is 32.51 km², of which 23.12 are in Russia. Located at an altitude of 21 m above sea level. It is a support for the Skogfoss hydroelectric power station.
• Skogvatn
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively, it is part of the Murmansk region of Russia and the commune of Sør-Varanger in Norway. Located at an altitude of 31 m above sea level. The lake belongs to the Barents Sea basin and is connected with it by the Paz River. The lake is fed mainly by snow and rain. The relief of the coast is mostly low-lying, swampy. Forests on the banks consist mainly of birch and pine. The lake is a support for the Melkefos hydroelectric power station.
• Skogsfjordvatnet
  The lake, located in Norway, on the island of Ringvassøy, in the province of Troms, has an area of ​​13.62 km², which makes it the largest island lake inside Norway. The length of the lake is about 10 kilometers, surrounded by swamps and forests. It is located at an altitude of 20 meters above sea level.
• Sperillene
  Lake in Norway. Located in the municipality of Ringerike in the county of Buskerud. The area is 37 km². Located at an altitude of 150 m above sea level. The greatest depth is 123 m. The total length of the coastline is 68 km.
• Tutak
  Lake. Located in Norway. Located in the municipality of Vigne. Area 36.59 km². Located at an altitude of 687 m above sea level. The greatest depth is 306 m. The total length of the coastline is 70.48 km. This lake is the 10th deepest lake in Norway.
• Chuin
  Alpine lake in the southwestern part of Norway. It is located in the mountains at an altitude of more than 1072 m above sea level in the commune of Vang fylke Oppland. The surface area is 33.02 sq. km., and the volume of water is 0.313 cubic meters. km.
• turifjord
  Lake in Norway. It is located in the county of Buskerud. It is the fifth largest lake in the country. The area is 136 km². The volume of the lake is approximately 13.1 km². Located at an altitude of 62 m above sea level. The greatest depth is 295 m.
• Femunn
  The third largest lake in Norway after Mjøsa and the Rössvatn reservoir; before filling the reservoir in the 1960s, it was the second lake in the country. It is located in the east of the country, near the border with Sweden, in a sparsely populated area: there is not a single significant settlement on the lake. The area of ​​the lake is divided between the commune of Engerdal in the county of Hedmark (southern part) and the commune of Røros in the county of Sør-Trøndelag (northern part). The river Trysilelv flows out of the lake, which, on the border with Sweden, changes its name to Klarelv and then flows into Lake Vänern.
• Fossevatn
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively, it is part of the Murmansk region of Russia and the commune of Sør-Varanger in Norway. Located at an altitude of 21 m above sea level. The lake belongs to the Barents Sea basin and is connected with it by the Paz River. The lake is fed mainly by snow and rain.
• Helin
  Lake. Located in Norway. Located in the municipalities of Vestre Slidre and Vang. The area of ​​the lake is 9.47 km². Located at an altitude of 870 m above sea level. The waters of the lake are used by the local hydroelectric power plant for energy production.
• Heyuhenjärvi
  Lake on the border of Norway and Russia in the Pasvik river valley. Administratively, it is part of the Murmansk region of Russia and the commune of Sør-Varanger in Norway. The area is 7.29 km², of which 2.35 are in Russia. Located at an altitude of 52.9 m above sea level.
• Hornindalsvatnet
  The deepest lake in Norway and in all of Europe, the depth is 514 m. The surface of the lake lies at an altitude of 53 m above sea level, therefore, its bottom is at around 461 m below sea level. In the 1990s, Telenor, Norway's former national telephone company, estimated the depth of the lake to be 612 m when it laid an optical cable across the bottom of the lake. Thus, modern official data may significantly underestimate the true value of the maximum depth of the lake. The volume of the lake is approximately 12 km².
• Everuman
  A lake located in the north of Sweden, on the border with Norway, in Lapland. A small part of the lake, located on Norwegian territory, is called Umbukta in Norway. The area is 84.47 km², the average depth is 20.5 m.