Raudvatnet
Encyclopedia
Raudvatnet is a Norwegian
lake
in Rana
municipality
in Nordland
. European route E12
between Mo i Rana
and Sweden
passes north and east of the lake. A Red cross hut («Rauvasshytta») is located east of Raudvatnet.
Raudvatnet has its name from the mountain Raudfjellet («the red mountain»), north of the lake. The mountain is red due to hematite
, which in elder times was extracted in order to make house painting in Rana
. During the years 1911-1919, the mining company Bossmo Gruber extracted pyrite
from Raudfjellet in the mine Mossgruven.
Hematite
from this red mountain was also the source of house painting in Northern Sweden
. It explains why most houses there are red, and also the Swedish
common name den Røda Stugan («the red house») when referring to their homes in the Swedish municipalities of Sorsele
and Storuman
.
From Litle Raudvatn («small Raudvatn»), located on Raudfjellet, a river flows north-eastwards as a tributary to Plura. In order to distinguish between these lakes, Raudvatnet is sometimes also called Store Raudvatn («large Raudvatn»).
The two main inflow rivers into Raudvatnet (besides Tverrvatnet), flows from the water Rausandhaugtjøn («tarn of the red sand heap») in northeast and the water Kringla in southwest.
From Raudvatnet, the river Tverråga
flows in a northwestern direction, ending up as a tributary to Ranelva
.
Raudvatnet is rich on trout
and arctic char
, and is a popular lake for hobby fishers, both in the summer and wintertime (ice fishing
).
Raudvatnet and the surrounding area is a popular recreation area. Blåvegenløpet Skifestival («The Blue road ski festival») was arranged for the 29th time by the sports club IL Stålkameratene
on March 31, 2007. Ending on Brennåsen, north of Gruben, it starts on two places: Umbukta (45 km) and Raudvatnet (21 km).
Around 550 cabins are located around the lake, and work is going on to make electricity available to their owners.
territory, where the traditional speakers of the Ume Sami language
once flourished. Breeding reindeer
s are an essential part of the economy of the Samis around the lake. During wintertime the reindeers are enfenced east of Raudvatnet and south of the Raudfjellet, from where they during summertime grass on the areas east of Raudvatnet and south of Tverrvatnet.
are located in an east-west direction.
The water in Tverrvatnet flows northwards, into Raudvatnet. Tverrvatnet is not separated from Raudvatnet, and is actually the southern part of Raudvatnet. The river Tverråga
flows northwestwards, out of Raudvatnet, not Tverrvatnet.
The river Tverråga
is thus named after Tverrvatnet, and those who once was giving the river Tverråga
its name, did not consider Raudvatnet as a lake of its own, but as the northern part of Tverrvatnet. If Raudvatnet was the original name, the correct name of the river Tverråga
, in local dialect, would in fact have been «Rauvassåga».
The primary source of water into Tverrvatnet is Umskarbekken («the Umskar stream»), flowing northwards from Umskartjørnet («the Umskar water») on Umskaret. From the west, a brook from Fisktjønna («The fish water») ends up as a tributary to Umskarbekken.
speaking population. An official document of November 11, 1789 declared Elias Nilssa (1752-1838) from Åga
as the leaseholder. The next leaseholders were:
The farm could not grow grain
, but potatoes and grass grew well. Potatoes was not possible to raise along Raudvatnet in the north.
In 1803 the farm was taxed to 10 Swedish riksdaler
, able to sow 1/2 and reap 1 barrel of grain
on 7 creatures. During the census
in 1801, 5 people worked and lived on the farm. In 1838, the farm was registered in a cadastre
. In 1845, the farm had 1 horse
, 10 cows, 12 sheeps and 4 goats. They also cultivated barley
and potatoes. During the census
of 1865, 8 people lived there, with 1 horse
, 9 cows and 6 sheeps. Barley
and potatoes was still cultivated.
The owner Jacob Coldevin sold the farm to the Norwegian state in 1888.
Tverrvatnet farm is the oldest farm in Rana
, still running (2008). On December 4, 2006, the farmers on Tverrvatnet farm was honored with the Cultural landscape prize , for their work on restoring the farm.
Tverrvatnet farm was an important link of the trade between Sweden
and Mo i Rana
, before the opening on August 13, 1939 of what was later named European route E12
. Traders from Sweden
spent their nights there. In 1904, traders paid 5 øre
for an overnight stop and 10 øre
if the trader brought with him a horse.
The farm was of uttermost importance during the catastrophic year of hunger on the Swedish side of the border in 1867. The situation in northern Sweden was so critical that King Oscar II of Sweden
visited Mo i Rana
on July 13, 1873, discussing the needs of a road between northern Sweden and Mo i Rana
.
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...
lake
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 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
Municipalities of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties , and 430 municipalities...
in 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...
. European route E12
European route E12
European route E 12 is a road that is part of the International E-road network. It begins in Mo i Rana, Norway, tranverses Sweden and ends in Helsinki, Finland, with a ferry line between Sweden and Finland. The part within Finland is Finnish national highway 3...
between Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
and 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....
passes north and east of the lake. A Red cross hut («Rauvasshytta») is located east of Raudvatnet.
Raudvatnet has its name from the mountain Raudfjellet («the red mountain»), north of the lake. The mountain is red due to hematite
Hematite
Hematite, also spelled as haematite, is the mineral form of iron oxide , one of several iron oxides. Hematite crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, and it has the same crystal structure as ilmenite and corundum...
, which in elder times was extracted in order to make house painting 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...
. During the years 1911-1919, the mining company Bossmo Gruber extracted pyrite
Pyrite
The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, is an iron sulfide with the formula FeS2. This mineral's metallic luster and pale-to-normal, brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold because of its resemblance to gold...
from Raudfjellet in the mine Mossgruven.
Hematite
Hematite
Hematite, also spelled as haematite, is the mineral form of iron oxide , one of several iron oxides. Hematite crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, and it has the same crystal structure as ilmenite and corundum...
from this red mountain was also the source of house painting in Northern 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....
. It explains why most houses there are red, and also the Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
common name den Røda Stugan («the red house») when referring to their homes in the Swedish municipalities of Sorsele
Sorsele Municipality
Sorsele Municipality is a municipality in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Sorsele.Sorsele Municipality covers an area of 8,012 km2...
and Storuman
Storuman Municipality
Storuman Municipality is a municipality in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden. Its seat is located in Storuman.The parish Stensele was created as late as 1822. It was, together with the parish Tärna, made into a municipality in 1863. In 1903 Tärna was detached to form a municipality of its own...
.
From Litle Raudvatn («small Raudvatn»), located on Raudfjellet, a river flows north-eastwards as a tributary to Plura. In order to distinguish between these lakes, Raudvatnet is sometimes also called Store Raudvatn («large Raudvatn»).
The two main inflow rivers into Raudvatnet (besides Tverrvatnet), flows from the water Rausandhaugtjøn («tarn of the red sand heap») in northeast and the water Kringla in southwest.
From Raudvatnet, the river Tverråga
Tverråga
Tverråga is a river which has its outlet in Ranelva, in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river flows from Tverrvatnet. The river absorbs seven other rivers, the last one at Hamaren on Gruben....
flows in a northwestern direction, ending up as a tributary to 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...
.
Raudvatnet is rich on 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 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 is a popular lake for hobby fishers, both in the summer and wintertime (ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
).
Raudvatnet and the surrounding area is a popular recreation area. Blåvegenløpet Skifestival («The Blue road ski festival») was arranged for the 29th time by the sports club IL Stålkameratene
IL Stålkameratene
Idrettslaget Stålkameratene is a Norwegian sports club from Mo i Rana, Nordland. It has sections for association football, ice hockey, martial arts, judo, archery, ice hockey, biathlon and Nordic skiing.-History:...
on March 31, 2007. Ending on Brennåsen, north of Gruben, it starts on two places: Umbukta (45 km) and Raudvatnet (21 km).
Around 550 cabins are located around the lake, and work is going on to make electricity available to their owners.
Reindeers near the eastern shores of Raudvatnet
Raudvatnet is located in SamiSami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
territory, where the traditional speakers of the Ume Sami language
Ume Sami
Ume Sami is a Sami language spoken in Sweden and Norway. It is a dying language with only about 10 native speakers left and is spoken mainly along the Ume River in the north of Arjeplog and Arvidsjaur.- Consonant gradation :...
once flourished. Breeding reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
s are an essential part of the economy of the Samis around the lake. During wintertime the reindeers are enfenced east of Raudvatnet and south of the Raudfjellet, from where they during summertime grass on the areas east of Raudvatnet and south of Tverrvatnet.
Lake Tverrvatnet
Through a narrow inlet southwards, Raudvatnet is connected with the lake Tverrvatnet (66°15′N 14°34′E), 680 meters above sealevel. Tverrvatnet [tvær'vatne], also written Tvervatnet, has its name from the fact that it is located «across» , in a north-south direction, while most lakes in RanaRana, 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...
are located in an east-west direction.
The water in Tverrvatnet flows northwards, into Raudvatnet. Tverrvatnet is not separated from Raudvatnet, and is actually the southern part of Raudvatnet. The river Tverråga
Tverråga
Tverråga is a river which has its outlet in Ranelva, in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river flows from Tverrvatnet. The river absorbs seven other rivers, the last one at Hamaren on Gruben....
flows northwestwards, out of Raudvatnet, not Tverrvatnet.
The river Tverråga
Tverråga
Tverråga is a river which has its outlet in Ranelva, in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river flows from Tverrvatnet. The river absorbs seven other rivers, the last one at Hamaren on Gruben....
is thus named after Tverrvatnet, and those who once was giving the river Tverråga
Tverråga
Tverråga is a river which has its outlet in Ranelva, in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river flows from Tverrvatnet. The river absorbs seven other rivers, the last one at Hamaren on Gruben....
its name, did not consider Raudvatnet as a lake of its own, but as the northern part of Tverrvatnet. If Raudvatnet was the original name, the correct name of the river Tverråga
Tverråga
Tverråga is a river which has its outlet in Ranelva, in Rana municipality, county of Nordland, Norway. The river flows from Tverrvatnet. The river absorbs seven other rivers, the last one at Hamaren on Gruben....
, in local dialect, would in fact have been «Rauvassåga».
The primary source of water into Tverrvatnet is Umskarbekken («the Umskar stream»), flowing northwards from Umskartjørnet («the Umskar water») on Umskaret. From the west, a brook from Fisktjønna («The fish water») ends up as a tributary to Umskarbekken.
The farm of Tverrvatnet
The area east of Tverrvatnet was cleared by a farmer named Andreas in the 1770s. Tverrvatnet farm was built on an important rallying point among the Ume SamiUme Sami
Ume Sami is a Sami language spoken in Sweden and Norway. It is a dying language with only about 10 native speakers left and is spoken mainly along the Ume River in the north of Arjeplog and Arvidsjaur.- Consonant gradation :...
speaking population. An official document of November 11, 1789 declared Elias Nilssa (1752-1838) from Åga
AGA
-Medicine:* Adequate, Appropriate or Average for Gestational Age, referring to prenatal growth rate* Anti-gliadin antibodies* Androgenetic alopecia* Aspartylglucosaminidase-Business:* AGA , Autogen Gasaccumulator AG, 1920's German car company...
as the leaseholder. The next leaseholders were:
- Around 1812: Kristoffer Eliassa (1784-1848)
- During the 1850s: Elias Kristoffersen (1827-1902)
- During the 1890s: Kristian Johan Eliassen (1859-1935)
- During the 1930s: Anders Olaus Kristiansen (1888-)
- November 19, 1955: John Petersen
The farm could not grow grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
, but potatoes and grass grew well. Potatoes was not possible to raise along Raudvatnet in the north.
In 1803 the farm was taxed to 10 Swedish riksdaler
Swedish riksdaler
The riksdaler was the name of a Swedish coin first minted in 1604. Between 1777 and 1873, it was the currency of Sweden. The daler, like the dollar, was named after the German Thaler. The similarly named Reichsthaler, rijksdaalder, and rigsdaler were used in Germany and Austria-Hungary, the...
, able to sow 1/2 and reap 1 barrel of grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
on 7 creatures. During the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
in 1801, 5 people worked and lived on the farm. In 1838, the farm was registered in a cadastre
Cadastre
A cadastre , using a cadastral survey or cadastral map, is a comprehensive register of the metes-and-bounds real property of a country...
. In 1845, the farm had 1 horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
, 10 cows, 12 sheeps and 4 goats. They also cultivated barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
and potatoes. During the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 1865, 8 people lived there, with 1 horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
, 9 cows and 6 sheeps. Barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
and potatoes was still cultivated.
The owner Jacob Coldevin sold the farm to the Norwegian state in 1888.
Tverrvatnet farm is the oldest farm 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...
, still running (2008). On December 4, 2006, the farmers on Tverrvatnet farm was honored with the Cultural landscape prize , for their work on restoring the farm.
Tverrvatnet farm was an important link of the trade between 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 Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
, before the opening on August 13, 1939 of what was later named European route E12
European route E12
European route E 12 is a road that is part of the International E-road network. It begins in Mo i Rana, Norway, tranverses Sweden and ends in Helsinki, Finland, with a ferry line between Sweden and Finland. The part within Finland is Finnish national highway 3...
. Traders from 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....
spent their nights there. In 1904, traders paid 5 øre
Øre
Øre is the centesimal subdivision of the Norwegian and Danish krones. The Faroese division is called the oyra, but is equal in value to the Danish coin. Before their discontinuation, the corresponding divisions of the Swedish krona and the Icelandic króna were the öre and the eyrir...
for an overnight stop and 10 øre
Øre
Øre is the centesimal subdivision of the Norwegian and Danish krones. The Faroese division is called the oyra, but is equal in value to the Danish coin. Before their discontinuation, the corresponding divisions of the Swedish krona and the Icelandic króna were the öre and the eyrir...
if the trader brought with him a horse.
The farm was of uttermost importance during the catastrophic year of hunger on the Swedish side of the border in 1867. The situation in northern Sweden was so critical that King Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
visited Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
on July 13, 1873, discussing the needs of a road between northern Sweden and Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
.
Literature
- Jens Andreas Friis: Hans Majiestæt Kong Oscar II's Reise i Nordland og Finmarken Aar 1873 (DanishDanish languageDanish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
= The travel of His Majesty the King Oscar II in NordlandNordlandis 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...
and FinnmarkFinnmarkor Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
during the year 1873), ChristianiaOsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Mallings, 1874, 2nd edition 1882 - Axel Coldevin: Mo Prestegjeld. Gardshistorie, Rana bygdebok, 1964
- Karl Andersson: Före Blå vägen (SwedishSwedish languageSwedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
= Before the Blue Road), Ljungberg Boktryckeri AB, Klippan, Västerbottens län, Bokförlaget Libris, ÖrebroÖrebro-Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions....
, June 1979, ISBN 91-7194-187-8 - Det Bestes Store Norge Atlas, Forlaget Det Beste A/S (Readers Digest), OsloOsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, 1st edition, 1983, ISBN 82-7010-152-4