Messingåga
Encyclopedia
Messingåga is a 50,67 km² river which flows northwards, ending up as a contributary to Ranelva
at Hjartåsen in the small village of Storvoll in Dunderlandsdal
in Rana
municipality, county of Nordland
, Norway
.
The river should not be confused with another river, also named Messingåga, which flows out into Ranelva
from east, south of Messingsletta close to Dunderland
.
From the small lake of Kjerringvatnet (Sami: Stuorra Áhkajávri), the river Kjerringelva (Sami: Áhkajohka) flows in an eastern direction. This river meets the stream Jarfjellbekken, which flows in a northern direction from the tarn Jarfjelltjønna through Austerskardet, north of the lake kopparvatnet. Messingåga has its beginning at the place Elivollan (Sami: Seaibbetgieddi), where Kjerringelva and Jarfjellbekken meets.
The river flows in a northern direction, through the valley of Messingdalen, east of the mountain Messingen, and absorbs several brooks.
On its way northwards, the river absorbs from west five brooks flowing from the mountain Jarfjellet, and from east five brooks from the mountain Kjerringfjellet (Sami: Stuorra Áhkavárre) and one brook from the mountain Harafjellet.
Messingåga flows through an area of moraine
s and deposits from clacier rivers. On its way to lake kopparvatnet, it flows through an area of mounds and knots of moraines (kettle area).
In 2005, the electricity company MiljøEnergi Nordland AS delivered a formal application to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate
, in order to get a license to use parts of Messingåga to produce electricity. Two alternatives have been presented: One installation of 6,5 MW with an energy production of 19 GWh, and another installation of 4,9 MW with an energy production of 16,5 GWh.
The river is located in untouched nature, in one of the most important areas of wetland
birds in Rana
. It is very rich of arctic char
and trout
, and has been proposed preserved both by environmental organizations and by the Norwegian parliament.
Ranelva
Ranelva is a 130 km long river in the municipality of Rana, and is one of the longest rivers in the county of Nordland, Norway. The river begins on Saltfjellet, in the borders between Norway and Sweden, and flows northwestwards under the name Randalselv . Ranelva begins where Randalselva and the...
at Hjartåsen in the small village of Storvoll in Dunderlandsdal
Dunderlandsdal
Dunderlandsdalen is a valley in Rana municipality in the county of Nordland, Norway. From just below the plateau of eastern Saltfjellet, it continues south-westward to the Ranfjord...
in Rana
Rana, Norway
Rana is the second largest municipality in Nordland county – and the third largest in North Norway – by population. By area, Rana is largest in Norway south of Finnmark , taking in large areas of mountains and forested valleys. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region...
municipality, county of Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
, 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 should not be confused with another river, also named Messingåga, which flows out into Ranelva
Ranelva
Ranelva is a 130 km long river in the municipality of Rana, and is one of the longest rivers in the county of Nordland, Norway. The river begins on Saltfjellet, in the borders between Norway and Sweden, and flows northwestwards under the name Randalselv . Ranelva begins where Randalselva and the...
from east, south of Messingsletta close to Dunderland
Dunderland
Dunderland is a village in the Dunderlandsdal valley in Rana municipality, Norway.The village has a train station on Nordlandsbanen, between Skonseng and Lønsdal. The station is 127 meters above sea level.-External links:*...
.
From the small lake of Kjerringvatnet (Sami: Stuorra Áhkajávri), the river Kjerringelva (Sami: Áhkajohka) flows in an eastern direction. This river meets the stream Jarfjellbekken, which flows in a northern direction from the tarn Jarfjelltjønna through Austerskardet, north of the lake kopparvatnet. Messingåga has its beginning at the place Elivollan (Sami: Seaibbetgieddi), where Kjerringelva and Jarfjellbekken meets.
The river flows in a northern direction, through the valley of Messingdalen, east of the mountain Messingen, and absorbs several brooks.
On its way northwards, the river absorbs from west five brooks flowing from the mountain Jarfjellet, and from east five brooks from the mountain Kjerringfjellet (Sami: Stuorra Áhkavárre) and one brook from the mountain Harafjellet.
Messingåga flows through an area of moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
s and deposits from clacier rivers. On its way to lake kopparvatnet, it flows through an area of mounds and knots of moraines (kettle area).
In 2005, the electricity company MiljøEnergi Nordland AS delivered a formal application to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate
Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate is a Norwegian government agency established in 1921. It is under the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and regulates the country's water resources and energy supply. Its mandate includes contingency planning for floods, serving as a centre of...
, in order to get a license to use parts of Messingåga to produce electricity. Two alternatives have been presented: One installation of 6,5 MW with an energy production of 19 GWh, and another installation of 4,9 MW with an energy production of 16,5 GWh.
The river is located in untouched nature, in one of the most important areas of wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
birds in Rana
Rana, Norway
Rana is the second largest municipality in Nordland county – and the third largest in North Norway – by population. By area, Rana is largest in Norway south of Finnmark , taking in large areas of mountains and forested valleys. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region...
. It is very rich of arctic char
Arctic char
Arctic char or Arctic charr is both a freshwater and saltwater fish in the Salmonidae family, native to Arctic, sub-Arctic and alpine lakes and coastal waters. No other freshwater fish is found as far north. It is the only species of fish in Lake Hazen, on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic...
and trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, and has been proposed preserved both by environmental organizations and by the Norwegian parliament.