Kalix River

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Kalix river
Mouth Gulf of Bothnia
Basin countries Sweden (100%)
Length 460.65 km[1]
Avg. discharge 289 m³/s [2]
Basin area 18,130.1 km² [3]

The Kalix River (in Swedish: proper Kalix älv or in everyday language Kalixälven, Northern Sami: Gáláseatnu, In Meänkieli the lower part of the river is called Kaihnuunväylä, while the upper part is called Kaalasväylä) is one of the four major rivers of Norrland, northern Sweden, that are untouched by water power constructions. It is 461 kilometres long, flowing up to the Kebnekajse mountain range in Kiruna Municipality. In the southeast it flows through Lappland; and to the south through Norrbotten County, discharging in the Gulf of Bothnia south-east of Kalix.

The Kalix River is the third river by length in Norrbotten, with the Torne River being 522 km and the Lule River being only slightly longer at 460.81 km.

Frozen Kalix river at Kalixforsbron, March 2008
Frozen Kalix river at Kalixforsbron, March 2008

Major contributaries are Tvärån, Ängesån and Tärendö River, which is a bifurcation river taking water from Torne River.

Its largest waterfall is Jokkfall, in Jokkmokk Municipality.

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