Orkla (river)

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox river | name = Orkla | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | etymology = | image = Orkanger 03.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = The mouth of the river at [[Orkanger]] | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 6 | mapframe-point = none | mapframe-caption = Interactive map of the river | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Norway]] | subdivision_type2 = Counties | subdivision_name2 = [[Trøndelag]], [[Innlandet]] | subdivision_type3 = Municipalities | subdivision_name3 = [[Oppdal Municipality]], [[Orkland Municipality]], [[Rennebu Municipality]], [[Tynset Municipality]]  | length = {{convert|179|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = {{convert|67.27|m3/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_max =  | source1 = [[Orkelsjøen]] | source1_location = [[Oppdal Municipality]], [[Trøndelag]] | source1_coordinates = {{coord|62.5102|09.8775|region:NO}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|1058|m}} | mouth = [[Orkanger]] | mouth_location = [[Orkland Municipality]], [[Trøndelag]] | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|63.31927|09.841218|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m}} | progression = | river_system = Orkla | basin_size = {{convert|3053|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} | basin_landmarks = | basin_population = | tributaries_left = Inna, Byna, Grana, and Resa | tributaries_right = Ya and Svorka | waterbodies = | waterfalls = | bridges = | ports = }}

'''Orkla'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Informasjon om stadnamn |url=https://stadnamn.kartverket.no/fakta/557512 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Norgeskart |publisher=[[Norwegian Mapping Authority|Kartverket]] |language=no}}</ref> is a river in [[Trøndelag]] and [[Innlandet]] counties in [[Norway]]. At {{convert|180|km}} in length, it is the longest river in [[Trøndelag]] county. The river follows the [[Orkdalen]] valley, discharging into the [[Orkdal Fjord]], an arm of the large [[Trondheimsfjorden]], at the town of [[Orkanger]].<ref name="snl">{{cite web|url=http://www.snl.no/Orkla|title=Orkla|author=Store norske leksikon|author-link=Store norske leksikon|language=no|access-date=2011-01-27}}</ref>

The river originates in the lake [[Orkelsjøen]], a small lake ({{convert|2.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}) near the watershed with the river Unna in the Glomma river system, in [[Oppdal Municipality]] in the [[Dovrefjell]] mountains. The river runs through Oppdal Municipality, [[Tynset Municipality]], [[Rennebu Municipality]], and [[Orkland Municipality]]. The municipalities are all in Trøndelag county, except for Tynset Municipality, which is in [[Innlandet]] county. Major towns and villages along the river include: Orkanger, [[Fannrem]], [[Vormstad]], [[Svorkmo]], [[Storås]], [[Meldal (village)|Meldal]], [[Å, Meldal|Å]] (in Orkland Municipality); and [[Voll, Trøndelag|Voll]] and [[Berkåk]] (in Rennebu Municipality).{{fact|date=August 2022}}

Orkla is a popular river for [[salmon]] fishing and the fourth largest in Norway by volume.<ref name="snl" /> About an {{convert|88|km|adj=on}} long stretch of the river through Orkland Municipality and Rennebu Municipality is used for salmon fishing throughout the season which typically runs from 1 June through 31 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/sponsored/UK/Sponsored-articles/Salmon-rivers/The-Orkla-River/|title=The Orkla River|publisher=VisitNorway.com|access-date=2011-01-27}}</ref>

The river is regulated by five power generation [[Reservoir (water)|reservoirs]], which were built between 1978 and 1985. The reservoirs have been a successful method of [[flood control]] preventing the river's major seasonal [[flood]]ing.<ref name="snl" /> The decommissioned [[Eidsfossen Hydroelectric Power Station|Eidsfossen Power Station]] stands along the river south of the confluence with the [[Ya (river)|Ya River]] at [[Yset]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Eidsfossen Kraftverk |url=https://kvikne.no/kulturminner/eidsfossen-kraftverk/ |publisher=Kvikne.no |language=no |access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref>

==Name== The [[Old Norse]] form of the name was just ''Ork'' (still found in the names [[Orkanger]], [[Orkdal Municipality|Orkdal]], [[Orkland Municipality|Orkland]]) and Orkelsjøen. The meaning of the name is unknown (maybe derived from the old Norse verb ''orka'' which means "to work" - the meaning of the name would then be "the river that ''works'' its way forward"). The name ''Orkla'' (with the [[diminutive]] ending ''-la'') originally belonged to the uppermost part of the river (lying in [[Tynset Municipality]], [[Innlandet]]), and the meaning of this name is probably "the small part of Ork".<ref name="snl" />

==See also== *[[List of rivers in Norway]]

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Rivers of Trøndelag]] [[Category:Orkland Municipality]] [[Category:Rennebu Municipality]] [[Category:Tynset Municipality]] [[Category:Oppdal Municipality]] [[Category:Rivers of Norway]]