| Eikeren | |
|---|---|
| Eikern | |
 | |
  Eikeren Location of the lake Show map of Buskerud Eikeren Eikeren (Vestfold) Show map of Vestfold Eikeren Eikeren (Norway) Show map of Norway | |
| Location | Buskerud andVestfold |
| Coordinates | 59°38′N9°58′E / 59.633°N 9.967°E /59.633; 9.967 |
| Type | Lake |
| Primary inflows | Fiskumsvannet lake |
| Primary outflows | Bergsvannet lake |
| Basin countries | Norway |
| Max. length | 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) |
| Max. width | 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) |
| Surface area | 27.6 km2 (10.7 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 158 metres (518 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 19 metres (62 ft) |
| References | NVE[1] |
Eikeren orEikern is a long, deeplake in easternNorway. The 27.6-square-kilometre (10.7 sq mi) lake is located on the border ofØvre Eiker Municipality inBuskerud county andHolmestrand Municipality inVestfold county (the majority of the lake is in Buskerud). It is the largest lake in all of Vestfold county, measuring about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) long and 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide, and reaching a depth of 158 metres (518 ft).[2]
The village ofEidsfoss lies at the southeastern end of the lake. At Eidsfoss, water flows into the lake from the nearby lakes Bergsvann, Vikevann, Haugestadvann and Hillestadvann. Eikeren lake also receives water flowing into it from the riversHakavikelva andSteinbruelva. The lake flows out through a narrow strait (Sundet) on the north end of the lake. The strait flows into a smaller lake Fiskumvannet. Through this strait, water flows at an average rate of 7 cubic metres per second (250 cu ft/s). From Fiskumvannet, water runs out into the riverVestfosselva to the village ofVestfossen. The river then goes on to the town ofHokksund, where it splits into two rivers that both flow in the large riverDrammenselva.[3]
In 2005, Eikeren was developed by the Vestfold Inter-Municipal Waterworks, (Vestfold Interkommunale Vannverk), in order to provide extra drinking water for Vestfold county. The other reservoir for the county is the lakeFarris inLarvik Municipality. Vestfold Inter-Municipal Waterworks Authority is a company owned by all the municipalities in Vestfold county and it is responsible for water supply, water treatment, emergency power supply, and water distribution to the people of the county.[4][5]
During the summer season, Eikeren is served by tourist boatM/S Eikern which runs between the villages ofEidsfoss andVestfossen. The originalM/S Eikern steamer was commissioned in 1861. The steam vesselCappelen was built in 1880 and was used for timber and passenger traffic. In 1903, the steamshipStadshauptmand Schwartz carried regular traffic and provided a link between the Kongsberg Railway (Kongsbergbanen) and theTønsberg–Eidsfoss Line. The current vesselM/S Eikern has carried traffic on Eikern since 1997.[6]
