| Rauma | |
|---|---|
View of the river |
|
| Origin | Lesjaskogsvatnet |
| Mouth | Åndalsnes/Veblungsnes |
| Basin countries | Norway |
| Length | 68 km (42 mi) |
| Source elevation | 611 m (2,005 ft) above sea level |
| Mouth elevation | 0 m (0 ft) above sea level |
| Basin area | 1,202 km2 (464 sq mi) |
Rauma is a river in the Møre og Romsdal and Oppland counties in Norway. It runs for 68 kilometres (42 mi) from the lake Lesjaskogsvatnet in the municipality of Lesja to the town of Åndalsnes in the municipality of Rauma. The river was once famous for its salmon-fishing, but since an infection with Gyrodactylus salaris, only 5-10% of the original stock survives. The salmon runs up to the "Slettafoss", a 16 metres (52 ft) high combination of waterfalls and rapids more than 42 kilometres (26 mi) upriver from the estuary.
The Romsdalen valley and Rauma are regarded as one of the most beautiful river valleys in Norway. The river runs very clear with a green tint and the mountains tower some 1,500 to 1,800 metres (4,900 to 5,900 ft) above the river in the lower and middle parts of the valley. The Reinheimen National Park and the Trollveggen cliff are both located along the southwestern shores of the river through Rauma municipality. The Romsdalsalpene mountains surround the river and the valley, including the mountains Store Trolltind, Store Venjetinden, Trollryggen, and Romsdalshornet. The Rauma Line railroad follows the river through the valley on its way north to Åndalsnes. The railroad crosses the river on the Kylling Bridge in Verma.
Rauma was classified as a protected watercourse in 1992, and the only main tributary affected by hydroelectric power is the river Verma with the more than 300-metre (980 ft) tall Verma waterfalls. The biggest tributaries are Ulvåa and Istra. Istra runs through the Ister valley, well known for the Trollstigen road in its upper parts.[1]
The meaning of the name Rauma is unknown (it is probably very old).