Klarälven
Klarälven ("The clear river" in Swedish) is a river flowing through Norway and Sweden. Together with Göta älv, which it is called as the river has passed through the lake Vänern, thus regarded as an entity, Göta älv—Klarälven is the longest river in Scandinavia and in the Nordic countries and its Swedish part the longest river of Sweden. These two rivers also have the largest drainage basin in the same areas, 50,229 km2 (19,394 sq mi) including all the rivers that run into Vänern, of which 42,468 km2 (16,397 sq mi) is located in Sweden and 7,761 km2 (2,997 sq mi) in Norway.
| Klarälven | |
|---|---|
Sola i Karlstad statue | |
Topographic map of Klarälven river, where the area for the drainage basin for Klarälven is highlighted. | |
| Location | |
| Country | Sweden, Norway |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Rogen and Femund |
| Mouth | Vänern |
• location | Karlstad |
• coordinates | 59°23′19″N 13°29′54″E |
• elevation | 44 m (144 ft) |
| Length | 460 km (290 mi) |
| Basin size | 11,820 km2 (4,560 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 165 m3/s (5,800 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 1,650 m3/s (58,000 cu ft/s) |
It emanates at the northeast side of Mount Brändstöten and flows through a couple of smaller lakes down to Lake Rogen in Härjedalen, Sweden, and then passes through the Norwegian Hedmark, where it flows through the lake Femunden. There it is known as Femundelva and Trysilelva. The rest of the river, the longest part, flows through Värmland to ultimately discharge in a delta into Vänern at Karlstad.
In its turn, Vänern drains then into Göta älv, reaching the sea at Gothenburg.
The river has historically provided significant economic benefits, providing a suitable transport route for log driving, and currently is internationally recognized as excellent sport fishing waters.