| Bygdin | |
|---|---|
 MB Bitihorn on Bygdin | |
 | |
| Location | Vang Municipality,Innlandet |
| Coordinates | 61°21′47″N08°23′09″E / 61.36306°N 8.38583°E /61.36306; 8.38583 |
| Type | glacier / mountain lake |
| Primary inflows | Breidløypa, Høystakka, Mjølkedøla, Torfinnsdøla and Vøla |
| Primary outflows | Vinsteråni |
| Catchment area | 305.59 km2 (117.99 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Norway |
| Max. length | 25 km (16 mi) |
| Max. width | 2.1 km (1.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 40.03 km2 (15.46 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 52 m (171 ft) |
| Max. depth | 215 m (705 ft) |
| Water volume | 2.08 km3 (0.50 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,048–1,057 m (3,438–3,468 ft) |
| References | NVE[1] |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of the lake | |
Bygdin[2] is alake inVang Municipality inInnlandet county,Norway. The 40-square-kilometre (15 sq mi) is located in the southern part of theJotunheimen mountain range. The 25-kilometre (16 mi) long, narrow mountain lake is located between the large lakesTyin (to the west) andVinstre to the east.[3]
The depth of Bygdin is regulated for hydroelectric power generation at nearby power plants. The normal level of the water lies between 1,048–1,057 metres (3,438–3,468 ft) above sea level. The maximum depth of the lake is 215 metres (705 ft). The Vinsteråni river runs out Bygdin, passes through theVinstre andVinstervatna lakes and into the riverVinstra. That river later flows into theGudbrandsdalslågen river.[4]
Bygdin lies to the southeast part of theJotunheimen and north of the lake lies a mountainous area that often reaches elevations over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). Some of the notable mountains located along the shores of the lake includeGaldeberget,Torfinnstindene, andNørdre Kalvehølotinden. Along the lake there are many tourist huts. On the west end liesEidsbugarden, on the north side lies the cabins at Torfinnsbu and on the east side lies the mountain hotel Bygdin Høyfjellshotell. In the summer, these huts are connected by boat and in winter by ski or snowmobile.
A memorial was raised in 1909 to the Norwegian poetAasmund Olavsson Vinje (1818-1870) at the western end of Bygdin atEidsbugarden on the outskirts ofJotunheim National Park where he had a private hut. Friends and followers commemorated his contribution to appreciation of Norwegian nature and strengthening of the Norwegian national identity. Today, Eidsbugarden is a rather large mountain tourist centre, with a hotel from 1909 which is being restored to reopen in the summer 2007, aNorwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT) cabin and approximately 160 private huts.[5][6]
MB Bitihorn is a vessel that has operated on Bygdin every summer since 1912. The boat was built at Glommen Mechanical Works inFredrikstad, Norway, and assembled at Bygdin. The route between Bygdin and Eidsbugarden has two departures daily, and there is capacity for 98 passengers on the boat trip.[7]