Otta (river)
| Otta | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Skjåk |
| Mouth | Gudbrandsdalslågen at Otta |
| Basin countries | Norway |
| Basin area | 3,948 km² |
Otta River near the town of the same name
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 Otta River is known for rafting. The rafting season begins in mid-May and lasts until the end of September.
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 fierce.
The Otta River
An overhead view of the Otta River.