Otra

For the Royal Norwegian Navy minesweepers named after the river, see HNoMS Otra.
Otra

Otra running through the city Kristiansand, where it is also called Torridalselva or Torridalselven.
Other name(s) Torridalselva, Torridalselven
Country Norway
Basin
Main source Setesdalsheiene
River mouth Skagerrak
Basin size 3,737 km2 (1,443 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length 245 km (152 mi)
Discharge
  • Average rate:
    150 m3/s (5,300 cu ft/s)

The Otra river is the largest river in the Sørlandet region of Norway. It flows from the Setesdalsheiene mountains in Bykle municipality in Aust-Agder county in the north, down to the municipality of Kristiansand in the south, where it flows into the Skagerrak.

The Otra is 245 kilometres (152 mi) long, making it Norway's eighth-longest river. There are many large lakes along the river including: Åraksfjorden, Byglandsfjorden, Hartevatnet, and Kilefjorden. There are 12 hydroelectric power plants built along the river, which produce much of the electricity for the southern part of Norway.[1]

The salmon do well in the Otra river because the water is not too acidic. The calcareous rocks in the catchment area at the top of Setesdal which river water a certain buffer capacity against acidification.[2]

References

  1. "Otra" (in Norwegian). Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  2. "Mindre forurensning og mer laks i Otra" (in Norwegian). Dirna.no.

Coordinates: 58°08′40″N 8°00′49″E / 58.14444°N 8.01361°E / 58.14444; 8.01361


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