Paatsjoki

Paatsjoki River

Harefossen and the Paatsjoki River
Origin Lake Inari
68°53′30″N 028°22′00″E / 68.89167°N 28.36667°ECoordinates: 68°53′30″N 028°22′00″E / 68.89167°N 28.36667°E
Mouth Bøkfjorden
Basin countries Finland Finland
Norway Norway
Russia Russia
Length 145 km (90 mi)
Source elevation 118 metres (387 ft)
Mouth elevation 0 metres (0 ft)
Avg. discharge 175 m3/s (6,200 cu ft/s)
Basin area 18,344 km2 (7,083 sq mi)

The Paatsjoki River (Finnish: Paatsjoki, Skolt Sami: Paaččjokk, Northern Sami: Báhčaveaijohka, Norwegian: Pasvikelva, Swedish: Pasvik älv, Russian: Паз or Патсойоки) is a river that flows through Finland, Norway, and Russia. Since 1826, the river has marked parts of the Norway–Russia border, except 1920-1944 when it was along the Finland–Norway border.[1]

The river is the outlet from the large Lake Inari in Finland and flows through Norway and Russia to discharge into the Bøkfjorden (which later flows into the Varangerfjorden and then the Barents Sea), not far from the town of Kirkenes. The river has a watershed of 18,404 square kilometres (7,106 sq mi), and is 145 kilometres (90 mi) long. A series of hydroelectric stations, known as the Paatsjoki River Hydroelectric Plants, are located on the river.[1]

The river provides good fishing opportunities for Atlantic salmon, although fishermen must ensure that their fishing lines do not cross the international border.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Store norske leksikon. "Pasvikelva" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2013-03-13.

External links

Media related to Paatsjoki at Wikimedia Commons