Vinstervatna

Vinstervatna
Sandvatnet / Kaldfjorden / Øyvatnet
Interactive map of the lake
LocationInnlandet
Coordinates61°21′48″N 9°11′14″E / 61.36321°N 9.18727°E / 61.36321; 9.18727
Basin countriesNorway
Max. length10 kilometres (6.2 mi)
Max. width5 kilometres (3.1 mi)
Surface area19.18 km2 (7.41 sq mi)
Surface elevation1,019 metres (3,343 ft)
ReferencesNVE[1]

Vinstervatna[2] (parts of the lake are known as: Sandvatnet, Kaldfjorden, or Øyvatnet) is a man-made reservoir in Innlandet county, Norway. The 19.18-square-kilometre (7.41 sq mi) lake is rather unique because it was created after a hydroelectric dam was built. After completion of the dam, the river flooded and several smaller lakes rose and became connected as one large lake. The lake lies on the border of Nord-Fron Municipality, Sør-Fron Municipality and Øystre Slidre Municipality.

Water enters from the nearby lake Vinstre to the west.[3] The lake sits at an elevation of 1,019 metres (3,343 ft) above sea level. The lake is located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwest of the town of Vinstra and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of the village of Beitostølen. The lake marks the northwestern boundary of Langsua National Park.

Names

Since the completion of the dam and the flooding of the area, the new lake has been referred to as Vinstervatna, after the nearby lake Vinstre which flows into this lake. Several parts of the large lake are still referred to by different names: Sandvatnet[4] is the western part, Kaldfjorden[5] is the central portion, and Øyvatnet[6] is the eastern part (referencing the old names of the old, smaller lakes that once were located in those areas). Kaldfjorden was the largest of the old lakes and the present lake in its entirety is also sometimes known as Kaldfjorden.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Innsjødatabase". nve.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Fangstregistreringer i Vinstervatna" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Statsforvalteren. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  3. ^ Vinjar, Asbjørn, ed. (26 November 2024). "Vinstre". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Foreningen Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Informasjon om stadnamn: Sandvatnet". Norgeskart (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Informasjon om stadnamn: Kaldfjorden". Norgeskart (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Informasjon om stadnamn: Øyvatnet". Norgeskart (in Norwegian). Kartverket. Retrieved 5 August 2025.