Skellefte River

The Skellefte älv (also Skellefteå ) is one of the major rivers in northern Sweden. It flows through Norrbotten County and Västerbotten County. The river has a total length of about 410 km. It rises at Lake Ikesjaure in Western Lapland, flows through the lakes Hornavan, Uddjaure and Storavan and ends at Skellefteå in the Gulf of Bothnia.

The most important tributaries of the Skellefte älv are Malan, Petikån, Finnforsån, Bjurån and Klintforsån.

The middle and lower reaches of the Skellefte älv was channeled and dammed for energy over long distances. Several medium-sized hydropower plants on Skellefte be älv operated by Skellefteå Kraft, including Grytfors (31 MW), Rengård (36 MW) and Båtfors (42 MW). Vattenfall operates three large hydropower plants on Skellefte älv: Bastusel (since 1972, 107 MW), Gallejaur ( since 1964, 219 MW), Vargfors ( since 1961, 120 MW).