Lule River
Encyclopedia
Lule River is a major river in Sweden
, rising in northern Sweden and flowing southeast for 460 km (285.8 mi) before reaching the Gulf of Bothnia
at Luleå
. It is the second longest river by watershed area or length in Norrbotten County
(after the Torne River
and very slightly ahead of the Kalix River
, which is 460.65 km long), but is the largest by average discharge.
It has a watershed of 25,240.5 km² of which 24,545.6 km² is in Sweden
and 694.9 km² in Norway
.
The river is an important source of hydroelectric energy, with major hydroelectric plants at e.g. Porjus
and Harsprånget. It was used extensively for the transportation of timber
, with logs floated downstream for processing at Luleå, but this stopped in the early 1980s. Several major rapids exist along the river's length, notably the Stora Falls and those at Porjus and Harsprånget.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the river was designated as a defensive line against a dreaded invasion by Imperial Russia and subsequently the Soviet Union
. Extensive fortifications exist along the entire length of the river, culminating in Bodens Fortress
in and around the city of Boden
. Most of these fortifications and bunkers are no longer in use today.
The Greater Lule River (Big Lule River) arguably begins somewhere near Sårjåsjaure in the mountains west of Gällivare
.
The water flows to the Virihaure lake, which also collects water from Kerkevare (via Kettaurejokk) and Alkajaure (via Millätno). The Tukejokk joins the Lule as well in Virihaure. Leaving Virihaure to the north, the river reaches the Vastenjaure lake after losing 32m over 2.2km.
It then flows via the Vuojatätno to lake Kutjaure and then Luoktanjarkajaure, collecting a lot of water from other lakes in Sarek National Park
, like Salohaure, and from the Swedish-Norwegian
border.
There are numerous waterfall
s and rapid
s in the river.
The best known is Stora Sjöfallet
at the end of the Akkajaure
lake, where the water falls 39.6 m from Kårtjejaure to Langasjaure.
In this lake the Vietasajokk joins the Lule.
The Stora Lule träsk is the largest of the lakes in the river.
Here it reaches the forest, and after the lake is joined by the Muddus River from Muddus National Park.
At 75m, near the village of Vuollerim
, the river joins with the Lesser Lule River
.
The Lule passes the Porsiforsen (25m over 2km), Edefors and Hedens fors.
It flows into the Baltic Sea
through the Bälingefjärden and Lulefjärden.
Other rivers in the watershed of the Lule with a length of more than 100 km are: Black River (Sweden), Flarkån, Lesser Lule River
, Pärl River, Rissajåkkå, Vietasätno, and Bodträskån
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, rising in northern Sweden and flowing southeast for 460 km (285.8 mi) before reaching the Gulf of Bothnia
Gulf of Bothnia
The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It is situated between Finland's west coast and Sweden's east coast. In the south of the gulf lie the Åland Islands, between the Sea of Åland and the Archipelago Sea.-Name:...
at Luleå
Luleå
- Transportation :Local buses are run by .A passenger train service is available from Luleå Centralstation on Sweden's national SJ railway service northbound to Narvik on the Norwegian coast, or southbound to Stockholm. See Rail transport in Sweden....
. It is the second longest river by watershed area or length in Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County
Norrbotten County is the northernmost county or län of Sweden. It borders Västerbotten County to the southwest, the Gulf of Bothnia to the southeast. It also borders the counties of Nordland and Troms in Norway to the northwest, and Lapland Province in Finland to the northeast.The name...
(after the Torne River
Torne River
The Torne River , is a river in northern Sweden and Finland. Approximately half of the river's length is a part of the border between these two countries. It rises at Lake Torne near the border with Norway and flows generally southeast for a distance of into the Gulf of Bothnia...
and very slightly ahead of the Kalix River
Kalix River
The Kalix River is one of the four major rivers of Norrland, northern Sweden, that are untouched by water power...
, which is 460.65 km long), but is the largest by average discharge.
It has a watershed of 25,240.5 km² of which 24,545.6 km² is in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and 694.9 km² in 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...
.
The river is an important source of hydroelectric energy, with major hydroelectric plants at e.g. Porjus
Porjus
Porjus is a locality situated in Jokkmokk Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 317 inhabitants in 2005. Geographically it is situated by the shores of Lule River at 499 meter height....
and Harsprånget. It was used extensively for the transportation of timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, with logs floated downstream for processing at Luleå, but this stopped in the early 1980s. Several major rapids exist along the river's length, notably the Stora Falls and those at Porjus and Harsprånget.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, the river was designated as a defensive line against a dreaded invasion by Imperial Russia and subsequently the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Extensive fortifications exist along the entire length of the river, culminating in Bodens Fortress
Boden Fortress
Boden Fortress is a modern fortress consisting of several major and minor forts and fortifications surrounding the city of Boden, Norrbotten, in northern Sweden. The fortress was originally intended to stop or delay attacks from the east or coastal assaults, which at the time of construction meant...
in and around the city of Boden
Boden, Sweden
Boden is a locality and the seat of Boden Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 18,680 inhabitants in 2005.- History :The town of Boden started as a railway junction where the Northern Line met with the Ore Line from the rich iron ore fields in northern Sweden.The town experienced...
. Most of these fortifications and bunkers are no longer in use today.
The Greater Lule River (Big Lule River) arguably begins somewhere near Sårjåsjaure in the mountains west of Gällivare
Gällivare
Gällivare is a locality and the seat of Gällivare Municipality in Norrbotten County, Sweden with 8,480 inhabitants in 2005. The town was founded in the 17th century...
.
The water flows to the Virihaure lake, which also collects water from Kerkevare (via Kettaurejokk) and Alkajaure (via Millätno). The Tukejokk joins the Lule as well in Virihaure. Leaving Virihaure to the north, the river reaches the Vastenjaure lake after losing 32m over 2.2km.
It then flows via the Vuojatätno to lake Kutjaure and then Luoktanjarkajaure, collecting a lot of water from other lakes in Sarek National Park
Sarek National Park
Sarek National Park is a national park in Jokkmokk Municipality, in the province Lapland in northern Sweden. Sarek borders the national parks Stora Sjöfallet and Padjelanta...
, like Salohaure, and from the Swedish-Norwegian
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...
border.
There are numerous waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s and rapid
Rapid
A rapid is a section of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient causing an increase in water velocity and turbulence. A rapid is a hydrological feature between a run and a cascade. A rapid is characterised by the river becoming shallower and having some rocks exposed above the...
s in the river.
The best known is Stora Sjöfallet
Stora Sjöfallet
Stora Sjöfallet is a national park in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden, in Gällivare Municipality. It is situated by the Norwegian border. It was declared a national park in 1909. The national park is part of the Laponian area which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
at the end of the Akkajaure
Akkajaure
Akkajaure is one of the largest reservoirs in Sweden. It lies at the headwaters of the Lule River in Norrbotten County, in Swedish Lappland, within the Stora Sjöfallet national park. The lake formed after the construction of the first Suorva dam in 1913–1923. The rim of the current dam is at...
lake, where the water falls 39.6 m from Kårtjejaure to Langasjaure.
In this lake the Vietasajokk joins the Lule.
The Stora Lule träsk is the largest of the lakes in the river.
Here it reaches the forest, and after the lake is joined by the Muddus River from Muddus National Park.
At 75m, near the village of Vuollerim
Vuollerim
Vuollerim is a locality situated in Jokkmokk Municipality, Norrbotten County, Sweden with 800 inhabitants in 2005.-Famous people:*Zemya Hamilton*Jakob Hellman*Jokkmokks-Jokke*Birgitta Svendén*Lars-Göran Nilsson-External links:*...
, the river joins with the Lesser Lule River
Lesser Lule River
The Lesser Lule River is a tributary of the Lule River in north Norrland, in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The river, which is entirely within the municipality of Jokkmokk, is 238 km long, with a drainage basin of approximately 9800 km². The longest tributary of the Lesser Lule River is...
.
The Lule passes the Porsiforsen (25m over 2km), Edefors and Hedens fors.
It flows into the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
through the Bälingefjärden and Lulefjärden.
Other rivers in the watershed of the Lule with a length of more than 100 km are: Black River (Sweden), Flarkån, Lesser Lule River
Lesser Lule River
The Lesser Lule River is a tributary of the Lule River in north Norrland, in Norrbotten County, Sweden. The river, which is entirely within the municipality of Jokkmokk, is 238 km long, with a drainage basin of approximately 9800 km². The longest tributary of the Lesser Lule River is...
, Pärl River, Rissajåkkå, Vietasätno, and Bodträskån
Bodträskån
Bodträskån is a small river that flows into Lule River in Norrbotten, Sweden.-Description:The river starts in Jokkmokk municipality and ends at Bodträskfors, a small village, in Edefors parish. Until the 1950s it was quite important but today the importance is minuscule...
.