| Vinstervatna | |
|---|---|
| Sandvatnet / Kaldfjorden / Øyvatnet | |
| Location | Innlandet |
| Coordinates | 61°21′48″N9°11′14″E / 61.36321°N 9.18727°E /61.36321; 9.18727 |
| Basin countries | Norway |
| Max. length | 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) |
| Surface area | 19.18 km2 (7.41 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,019 metres (3,343 ft) |
| References | NVE[1] |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of the lake | |
Vinstervatna[2] (parts of the lake are known as:Sandvatnet,Kaldfjorden, orØyvatnet) is a man-madereservoir inInnlandet county,Norway. The 19.18-square-kilometre (7.41 sq mi) lake is rather unique because it was created after ahydroelectric 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 ofNord-Fron Municipality,Sør-Fron Municipality andØystre Slidre Municipality.
Water enters from the nearby lakeVinstre 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 ofVinstra and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of the village ofBeitostølen. The lake marks the northwestern boundary ofLangsua National Park.
Since the completion of the dam and the flooding of the area, the new lake has been referred to asVinstervatna, after the nearby lakeVinstre 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, andØyvatnet[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 asKaldfjorden.[1]