Sog River

The hydroelectric power plant at the suction Ljósafossstöð

The undertow is a river in southwest Iceland.

Name

The name means the same as in German and comes from the remarkably strong current of the river.

Most important data

The river is about 19 ​​km long. From 1940-59 was its average amount of water 112m ² / sec, from 1960 to 1979 105m ² / sec Since it is a source flow, the amount of water throughout the year remains much the same.

Usually can be found even in winter no ice on the lake, due to the introduction of geothermal energy in its source area.

River course

Maelstrom is the outflow of Þingvallavatn, this is the most water-rich source river of Iceland. About five kilometers after this it flows through the lake Úlfljótsvatn. A few kilometers later, he passed through the lake Álftavatn.

After a total of about 20 km of the town of Selfoss, the suction flows north at the foot of Ingólfsfjall with the Hvítá together and as Ölfusá still about 22 km to the Atlantic Ocean.

History

At the outlet of the suction from the Þingvallavatn found the remains of huts in which it turned out that there were former warehouses of the Bishop of Skálholt. The river was formerly also traveled by boat, which was not without its dangers.

Energy

From his water quantities is obtained (at the outflow of the Þingvallavatn ) Ljósafoss (at the outflow of the Úlfljótsvatn ) and Írafoss electric power to the power plants Steingrimsstöð.

The oldest of these power plants, the Ljósafosskraftwerk was taken into operation in 1937 and is one of the oldest power plants in Iceland. It currently produces 15 MW of power. Of the other two power plants produce the Írafosskraftwerk 48MW and 27MW Steingrimsstöð.

Fishing

There is fishing salmon and trout in the wake.

Troll Sage

In a cave on the upper reaches of the undertow a troll woman to have lived.