Otta (river)

Otta
Origin Skjåk
Mouth Gudbrandsdalslågen at Otta
Basin countries Norway
Basin area 3,948 km²

The Otta river flows through the Ottadal valley in the municipalities of Skjåk, Lom, Vågå and Sel in Norway.

The river Otta begins in Skjåk municipality and flows into lake Vågåvatn. Exiting the Vågåvatn at Vågåmo, it continues its journey through the Ottadal leaving Vågå municipality to meet the Gudbrandsdalslågen at the town Otta in Sel municipality.

The watershed of the Otta drains an area of 3948 km².

The name

The name of the river is probably derived from the Norse verb ótta 'scare, terrify'. The water of the river comes from glaciers, and the flooding of the river can be strong and fiercely.