The Begna is a river in Viken and Innlandet counties in Norway. The 213-kilometre (132 mi) long river runs from the Filefjell mountain area through Valdres to the town of Hønefoss where it joins the river Randselva before it empties into the Tyrifjorden. The river Begna drains a watershed of 4,875 square kilometres (1,882 sq mi) and this is the primary river in the watershed. Along its course, the river passes through the village of Begna in Sør-Aurdal Municipality. The Norwegian writer, Mikkjel Fønhus lived much of his life and located most of his novels along the river Begna.[1][2]
The headwaters of the river is found in the Filefjell mountain plateau on the south side of the Jotunheimen mountains. Among the highest points of the headwaters are the lake Steinurdalstjern which sits at an elevation of 1,429 metres (4,688 ft) above sea level. Many of the mountain streams that feed into the river flow into the lake Otrøvatnet. The main outflow of the lake is where the river Begna begins. This part is also known as the Otrøelva river, and a short distance downstream the river Ylja joins it and after this confluence, the river is known as the Begna. The river continues eastwards and southwards along its course.[2]
There are several places along the river which have been dammed and these have formed a number of large lakes including Vangsmjøse, Slidrefjorden, Strondafjorden, and Aurdalsfjorden. The valley through which the river flows is called the Begnadalen valley. After passing through the village of Begna, the river enters into Viken county. After passing the village of Nes, the river enters the large lake Sperillen in the Ådal valley. From the lake Sperillen to the town of Hønefoss, the river is also known as the Ådalselva. At Hønefoss, the river cascades down a 21.5-metre (71 ft) tall waterfall known as Hønefossen. The river Begna joins the Randselva river in Hønefoss before discharging into the large lake Tyrifjorden.[3]
Begna in Hønefoss
Honefossen in Hønefoss
Power generation
In the past, the river Begna was a significant log driving river. Over the years the river has been developed for hydroelectric power with a maximum output of approximately 326 megawatts (437,000 hp) (as of 2003) including on its tributaries. The largest power stations are Åbjøra in Nord-Aurdal which produces 93 megawatts (125,000 hp) and Bagn in Sør-Aurdal which produces 76 megawatts (102,000 hp).[2] The Association for Begna Watershed Control (Foreningen til Bægnavassdragets Regulering) is an association that was created under the provisions of the Norwegian Watercourse Act. Its purpose is to protect members' common interests with regard to the use of water from the Begna river basin that is used for power generation. The hydropower company operates 20 power plants on the Begna (and the river Drammenselva which flows from the lake Tyrifjorden to the sea. The association is responsible for maintenance and operation of dams, gates, and stations along the Begna waterway. The plants are mainly located in Valdres in the upper part of the river.[4]
^Geir Thorsnæs. "Hønefossen". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
^ (in Norwegian). Foreningen til Bægnavassdragets Regulering. Archived from the original on 5 September 2011.
March 07, 2023
begna, river, begna, river, viken, innlandet, counties, norway, kilometre, long, river, runs, from, filefjell, mountain, area, through, valdres, town, hønefoss, where, joins, river, randselva, before, empties, into, tyrifjorden, river, begna, drains, watershed. The Begna is a river in Viken and Innlandet counties in Norway The 213 kilometre 132 mi long river runs from the Filefjell mountain area through Valdres to the town of Honefoss where it joins the river Randselva before it empties into the Tyrifjorden The river Begna drains a watershed of 4 875 square kilometres 1 882 sq mi and this is the primary river in the watershed Along its course the river passes through the village of Begna in Sor Aurdal Municipality The Norwegian writer Mikkjel Fonhus lived much of his life and located most of his novels along the river Begna 1 2 BegnaView of the riverLocation of the riverShow map of Viken county Begna river Innlandet Show map of InnlandetBegna river Norway Show map of NorwayLocationCountryNorwayCountyInnlandet VikenMunicipalitiesVang Vestre Slidre Nord Aurdal Sor Aurdal RingerikePhysical characteristicsSourceOtrovatnet locationTyinkrysset Vang coordinates61 11 11 N 8 12 34 E 61 1864 N 8 20936 E 61 1864 8 20936 elevation971 metres 3 186 ft MouthRandselva river locationHonefoss Ringerike coordinates60 10 08 N 10 15 49 E 60 168830 N 10 263504 E 60 168830 10 263504 Coordinates 60 10 08 N 10 15 49 E 60 168830 N 10 263504 E 60 168830 10 263504 elevation65 metres 213 ft Length213 km 132 mi Basin size4 851 km2 1 873 sq mi Discharge average88 m3 s 3 100 cu ft s Contents 1 Course 2 Power generation 3 See also 4 ReferencesCourse EditThe headwaters of the river is found in the Filefjell mountain plateau on the south side of the Jotunheimen mountains Among the highest points of the headwaters are the lake Steinurdalstjern which sits at an elevation of 1 429 metres 4 688 ft above sea level Many of the mountain streams that feed into the river flow into the lake Otrovatnet The main outflow of the lake is where the river Begna begins This part is also known as the Otroelva river and a short distance downstream the river Ylja joins it and after this confluence the river is known as the Begna The river continues eastwards and southwards along its course 2 There are several places along the river which have been dammed and these have formed a number of large lakes including Vangsmjose Slidrefjorden Strondafjorden and Aurdalsfjorden The valley through which the river flows is called the Begnadalen valley After passing through the village of Begna the river enters into Viken county After passing the village of Nes the river enters the large lake Sperillen in the Adal valley From the lake Sperillen to the town of Honefoss the river is also known as the Adalselva At Honefoss the river cascades down a 21 5 metre 71 ft tall waterfall known as Honefossen The river Begna joins the Randselva river in Honefoss before discharging into the large lake Tyrifjorden 3 Begna in Honefoss Honefossen in HonefossPower generation EditIn the past the river Begna was a significant log driving river Over the years the river has been developed for hydroelectric power with a maximum output of approximately 326 megawatts 437 000 hp as of 2003 including on its tributaries The largest power stations are Abjora in Nord Aurdal which produces 93 megawatts 125 000 hp and Bagn in Sor Aurdal which produces 76 megawatts 102 000 hp 2 The Association for Begna Watershed Control Foreningen til Baegnavassdragets Regulering is an association that was created under the provisions of the Norwegian Watercourse Act Its purpose is to protect members common interests with regard to the use of water from the Begna river basin that is used for power generation The hydropower company operates 20 power plants on the Begna and the river Drammenselva which flows from the lake Tyrifjorden to the sea The association is responsible for maintenance and operation of dams gates and stations along the Begna waterway The plants are mainly located in Valdres in the upper part of the river 4 See also EditList of rivers in NorwayReferences Edit Erik Bjerck Hagen Mikkjel Fonhus Store norske leksikon Retrieved 1 October 2016 a b c Thorsnaes Geir ed 14 January 2021 Begna Store norske leksikon in Norwegian Kunnskapsforlaget Retrieved 30 August 2022 Geir Thorsnaes Honefossen Store norske leksikon Retrieved 1 October 2016 Velkommen til Foreningen til Baegnavassdragets Regulering in Norwegian Foreningen til Baegnavassdragets Regulering Archived from the original on 5 September 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Begna river amp oldid 1107640226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
