Otta (river)

Otta^[1] is a river in Innlandet county, Norway. The 147.85-kilometre (91.87 mi) river flows through the Ottadalen valley which includes the municipalities of Skjåk, Lom, Vågå, and Sel. The watershed of the Otta drains an area of 4,172 square kilometres (1,611 sq mi) beginning in the Breheimen mountains and emptying into the large river Gudbrandsdalslågen. The Otta River is known for rafting. The rafting season begins in mid-May and lasts until the end of September. The Norwegian National Road 15 runs along the river for almost its entire course.^[2][3]

Otta
The Otta River near the town of Otta
Location
Country	Norway
County	Innlandet
Municipalities	Skjåk, Lom, Vågå, and Sel
Physical characteristics
Source	Djupvatnet lake
• location	Stranda, Norway
• coordinates	62°01′29″N 7°19′21″E
• elevation	1,016 metres (3,333 ft)
Mouth	Gudbrandsdalslågen
• location	Otta, Norway
• coordinates	61°46′03″N 9°32′39″E
• elevation	210 metres (690 ft)
Length	147.85 km (91.87 mi)
Basin size	4,172 km2 (1,611 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	119.7 m3/s (4,230 cu ft/s)

Course

The river technically begins at the lake Djupvatnet in Stranda Municipality which is in Vestland county, about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) west of the border with Skjåk Municipality in Innlandet county. The river flows through the Billingsdalen valley heading to the east, including through several lakes including the Breiddalsvatnet, Skim, and Vågåvatn. After the Vågåvatn lake at Vågåmo, it enters the Ottadalen valley and heads to the southeast to the town of Otta in Sel Municipality. At Otta, the river joins the large river Gudbrandsdalslågen.^[3]

Name

The name of the river is probably derived from the Old Norse verb ótta which is the genitive case of ótti which means to "scare" or "terrify". The water of the river comes from glaciers, and the flooding of the river can be strong and fierce.

Media gallery

• 
  Otta River.
• 
  Aerial view of the Otta River.
• 
  In front of Otta.

See also

• List of rivers in Norway