Moldeelva
Encyclopedia
The Moldeelva runs through Moldemarka
and through the city of Molde
in Møre og Romsdal
county, Norway
. Its origins are found at the lake Moldevatnet
. It follows Moldedalen (Molde valley) on its way to Moldefjord
. The approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long river is crossed by several bridges.
Although the river is minor and seasonal, there were several sawmill
s along its course in the 17th and 18th centuries. This gave rise to the city itself through a combination of a good harbour, proximity to the sea routes, vast timber
resources, and a river capable of supporting mills.
In 1909, the river also housed the first hydroelectric power plant capable of providing sufficient electricity
to the city. Much of the drinking water for the city comes from the upper part of the river. During the reconstruction after the fire of 1916, the lower part of the river and the estuary is controlled by a dam
, built just north of the city, which also serves as a reservoir
and water supply reserve.
Moldemarka
Moldemarka is the general term used to describe the hilly and mostly wooded recreational area north of the city of Molde in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The area is famous for the Molde panorama, with a magnificent view of more than 222 rugged and partly snow-clad peaks, mountainous islands,...
and through the city of Molde
Molde
is a city and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Romsdal region. The municipality is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord...
in Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
county, 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...
. Its origins are found at the lake Moldevatnet
Moldevatnet
Moldevatnet is the main reservoir and water supply for the city of Molde in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The lake is the source of the river Moldeelva and it is located about north of the city of Molde, and the north end lies about southeast of the municipal border with Fræna....
. It follows Moldedalen (Molde valley) on its way to Moldefjord
Moldefjord
The Moldefjord is a fjord in the municipality of Molde in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is a long branch of the Romsdalsfjord, running past the city of Molde in and east-west bound direction from Julsund to the west, north of the Molde archipelago and Bolsøya, and continuing east into the...
. The approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long river is crossed by several bridges.
Although the river is minor and seasonal, there were several sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s along its course in the 17th and 18th centuries. This gave rise to the city itself through a combination of a good harbour, proximity to the sea routes, vast 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...
resources, and a river capable of supporting mills.
In 1909, the river also housed the first hydroelectric power plant capable of providing sufficient electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
to the city. Much of the drinking water for the city comes from the upper part of the river. During the reconstruction after the fire of 1916, the lower part of the river and the estuary is controlled by a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
, built just north of the city, which also serves as a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
and water supply reserve.