Tovdalselva

Tovdalselva to its confluence with the Topdalsfjord

Template: Infobox River / Obsolete

The Tovdalselva (also Topdalselva ) is a 143 km long river in southern Norway in the provinces of Aust-Agder and Vest- Agder. It is the longest river in South Coast, which still flows freely through its entire run. The Tovdalselva opens between Hamresanden and the airfield from Kristiansand in the Topdalsfjord.

The river is protected by the Verne Plan IV for vassdrag above Rjukan in Åmli before the development of hydropower.

The average discharge at the mouth is 65 m³ / s

The Tovdalselva has two source rivers, which unite in the Herefossfjorden. The eastern Tovdalsgreina is narrow and elongated and has its origin between Valle in Aust -Agder and Telemark Fyresdal. In the upper part of the river are numerous lakes, the largest being the Straumsfjorden (757 moh. ).

The western Uldalsgreina has three tributaries: Skjeggedalsåna, Vatnedalsåna and Hovlandsåna. The Hanefoss Kraftverk is here. There is a small hydroelectric power plant in the lower part of the source flux.

The Tovdalselva has another smaller inflow, with the lake Ogge in its catchment area. The lake Ogge has two outflows. The larger is the Rettåna, which flows north to Uldalsgreina. The Dikeelva flows to the lake Flakksvann in Birkenes in the lower course of the river Tovdalselva.

The catchment area is about 1,800 km ². The highest point is located at 1101 moh. The following municipalities are located in the catchment area: Fyresdal, Valle, Bygland, Evje and Hornnes, Åmli, Froland, Grimstad, Birkenes, Iveland, Lillesand and Kristiansand.

Fauna

The Tovdalselva has long been one of the best salmon rivers in the country. In the years 1880-83 she was - in terms of the catch - in third place. In the early 1900s began the acid rain to affect the river and its fauna. By 1970, the salmon population was extinct.

1997 Kalkungsaktion was initiated to conserve fish stocks. In 2003, there were about 300 kg salmon. This is still very modest compared to the 1880s, when the catches were still more than 12 tons. The salmon can swim up to Herefossfjorden, a distance of about 45 km. Previously they were a bit higher - to Storefoss above the Gauslåfjorden.