Salsvatn

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Salsvatn
Location Nord-Trøndelag
Coordinates 64°43′N 11°40′ECoordinates: 64°43′N 11°40′E
Lake type meromictic
Basin countries Norway
Surface area 44.77 km²
Max depth 464 m (482 m?)
Water volume 6.87 km³
Surface elevation 9 m

Salsvatn (or Salsvatnet[1]) is a lake in the municipalities of Fosnes and Nærøy in Nord-Trøndelag county. With its deepest depth of 464 m it is Norway’s and Europe’s second deepest lake, after Hornindalsvatnet. Alternate sources give the depth as 464 m and 482 m at the deepest point. It is 9 m above sea level at the surface, and drops to 455 m below sea level. With an area of 44.77 km² and a volume of 6.87 km³ it is 105.61 km around.

Salsvatnet is meromictic. Permanently stratified, often without oxygen at depth due to density gradient and lack of turnover. A meromictic lake often preserves records of the geologic past. The lower layer of the lake is highly saline and as a result denser than the higher levels of water. Other meromictic lakes with old seawater at depth in Norway include Kilevann, Tronstadvatn, Birkelandsvatn, Botnvatn, Rørhopvatn and Rørholtfjorden in Tokke.

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[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ The suffix "-et" is a form of the Norwegian language definite article and means "the". Hence Salsvatnet is equivalent to "the Salsvatn." Both forms can be found in English language text.