Eikeren
Encyclopedia
Eikeren or Eikern is a long and deep lake
in the municipalities of Hof
in the county of Vestfold
and Øvre Eiker
in the county of Buskerud
, Norway
. It is the largest lake within the county of Vestfold.
At the eastern end of Vestfold is the village of Eidsfoss
. In this section, water flows into Lake Eikeren from the Bergsvann, Vikevann, Haugestadvann and Hillestadvann. Lake Eikeren also receives waterflow from the Hakavikelva and Steinbruelva Rivers.
In the western part, Eikeren comes together with the Fiskumvannet in a narrow, strait known as Sundet. Here water flows into Lake Fiskum, located at the top of Eikernvassdraget. Through this strait, water flows at an average of 7 m3 per second. From Lake Fiskum, water runs out into Vestfosselva to Vestfossen
. The river then go to Hokksund
, where it splits into two river that both flow in the Drammen River
.
In 2005, Lake Eikeren was developed by the Vestfold Inter Municipal Waterworks, (Vestfold Interkommunale Vannverk), in order to provides extra drinking water for Vestfold. The other sources is Farrisvannet, a lake on the border between the counties of Vestfold and Telemark
. Vestfold Inter Municipal Waterworks Authority is a company owned by ten municipalities in Vestfold and is responsible for water supply, water treatment, emergency power supply and the main distribution to its members.
During the summer season, Lake Eikeren is served by tourist boat M/S Eikern between Eidsfoss and Vestfossen. The original M/S Eikern steamer was commissioned in 1861. The steam vessel Cappelen was built in 1880 and was used for timber and passenger traffic. In 1903, the steamship Stadshauptmand Schwartz carried regular traffic and provided a link between the Kongsberg Railway (Kongsbergbanen) and the Tønsberg–Eidsfoss Line. The current vessel M/S Eikern has carried traffic on Lake Eikern since 1997.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the municipalities of Hof
Hof
Hof may refer to:In places:* Hof, Germany, a city in Bavaria, Germany** Hof , a district in Bavaria* Hof, Rhineland-Palatinate, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany* Hof, Iceland, a small village in Iceland...
in the county of Vestfold
Vestfold
is a county in Norway, bordering Buskerud and Telemark. The county administration is in Tønsberg.Vestfold is located west of the Oslofjord, as the name indicates. It includes many smaller, but well-known towns in Norway, such as Larvik, Sandefjord, Tønsberg and Horten. The river Numedalslågen runs...
and Øvre Eiker
Øvre Eiker
Øvre Eiker is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Eiker. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hokksund. The old municipality of Eiker was divided into Øvre Eiker and Nedre Eiker on 1 July 1885.-Name:The Old Norse form of...
in the county of Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is the largest lake within the county of Vestfold.
At the eastern end of Vestfold is the village of Eidsfoss
Eidsfoss
Eidsfoss is a village in Hof municipality, in Vestfold county, Norway. It is located near Lake Eikeren.The village was the site of the Eidsfos Iron Works which dated to 1697. The iron works was closed during 1873. The village is also the location of the historic Eidsfos Manor which dates from...
. In this section, water flows into Lake Eikeren from the Bergsvann, Vikevann, Haugestadvann and Hillestadvann. Lake Eikeren also receives waterflow from the Hakavikelva and Steinbruelva Rivers.
In the western part, Eikeren comes together with the Fiskumvannet in a narrow, strait known as Sundet. Here water flows into Lake Fiskum, located at the top of Eikernvassdraget. Through this strait, water flows at an average of 7 m3 per second. From Lake Fiskum, water runs out into Vestfosselva to Vestfossen
Vestfossen
Vestfossen is a village in the municipality of Øvre Eiker, in the county of Buskerud, Norway.-History:Vestfossen is a former industrial town with traditions dating back to...
. The river then go to Hokksund
Hokksund
Hokksund is a town in the municipality of Øvre Eiker in the county of Buskerud in Norway.-History:Hokksund is the administrative centre, and largest town in Øvre Eiker, with a population of around 8,000. The river Drammenselva flows through the town, 500m from the centre. Hokksund has developed on...
, where it splits into two river that both flow in the Drammen River
Drammenselva
Drammenselva is a river in Buskerud county, southeastern Norway.-Location:Drammenselva is one of the largest rivers in Norway, with a drainage basin of about 17,000 square kilometers and a flow rate of 300 cubic meters per second. The river has an average discharge of about 300 m3 / s...
.
In 2005, Lake Eikeren was developed by the Vestfold Inter Municipal Waterworks, (Vestfold Interkommunale Vannverk), in order to provides extra drinking water for Vestfold. The other sources is Farrisvannet, a lake on the border between the counties of Vestfold and Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
. Vestfold Inter Municipal Waterworks Authority is a company owned by ten municipalities in Vestfold and is responsible for water supply, water treatment, emergency power supply and the main distribution to its members.
During the summer season, Lake Eikeren is served by tourist boat M/S Eikern between Eidsfoss and Vestfossen. The original M/S Eikern steamer was commissioned in 1861. The steam vessel Cappelen was built in 1880 and was used for timber and passenger traffic. In 1903, the steamship Stadshauptmand Schwartz carried regular traffic and provided a link between the Kongsberg Railway (Kongsbergbanen) and the Tønsberg–Eidsfoss Line. The current vessel M/S Eikern has carried traffic on Lake Eikern since 1997.