| Altaelva Álttáeatnu / Alattionjoki Kautokeinoelva | |
|---|---|
 View of theSautso canyon | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Finnmark |
| District | Alta,Kautokeino |
| City | Alta |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | South ofReisa National Park near the border withFinland andFinnmark |
| • location | Kautokeino,Finnmark,Norway |
| • coordinates | 69°04′50″N22°23′02″E / 69.08056°N 22.38389°E /69.08056; 22.38389 |
| • elevation | 483 m (1,585 ft) |
| Mouth | Alta |
• location | Alta Municipality,Finnmark,Norway |
• coordinates | 69°58′10″N23°22′24″E / 69.96944°N 23.37333°E /69.96944; 23.37333 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 240 km (150 mi) |
| Basin size | 7,390 km2 (2,850 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Alta |
| • average | 90 m3/s (3,200 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 1,200 m3/s (42,000 cu ft/s) |
Altaelva (English:Alta River;[1][2][3]Northern Sami:Álttáeatnu;Kven:Alattionjoki) is the third-longest river inFinnmark county,Norway. The river begins in the mountains and lakes inKautokeino Municipality, near the border withFinnmark county andFinland, just south ofReisa National Park. The 240-kilometre (150 mi) long river then runs northward intoAlta Municipality where it flows out into theAltafjorden in the town ofAlta. The river has carved outSautso, one of the largestcanyons in Europe on its way from the highFinnmarksvidda plateau down to the sea. The villages ofKautokeino andMasi are located along the river, in addition to the town of Alta.[4]
During the 1970s and 1980s, the river was the site of theAlta controversy regarding the construction of a dam and hydroelectric power plant. TheAlta power station was eventually built in 1987, creating the lakeVirdnejávri on the river.[4]
The river is one of the bestsalmon rivers in Norway, known for its large-sized salmon. In older days, salmon up to 33 kilograms (73 lb) were recorded, and still fish up to 24 kilograms (53 lb) are caught.[5] In 2011, 1,082 salmon (7 kilograms (15 lb) or heavier) were caught on the river.[4]
TheAltaelva literally means the "Alta River" in English. TheNorthern Sami language version of the name isÁlttáeatnu and theKven language version of the name isAlattionjoki. The part of the river that is upstream (south) of theAlta dam is also calledKautokeinoelva, meaning the "Kautokeino River", since that part of the river lies inKautokeino. That part of the river is also known asGuovdageaineatnu orEatnu in the Northern Sami language.[4]
Media related toAltaelva at Wikimedia Commons
