Tinnsjå (also known as Tinnsjø or Tinnsjøen; English: Lake Tinn[3][4][5]) is one of the largest lakes in Norway measuring about 51.38 km2 (19.84 sq mi). It is also one of the deepest lakes in Europe, reaching a depth of 460 m (1,510 ft). Tinnsjå is located in the municipalities of Tinn and Notodden in Telemark county. At its source in the west, the Måna river flows out of the lake Møsvatn and past the town of Rjukan into Tinnsjå. From the north, the river Mår flows from the lakes Mår, Gøystavatn, and Kalhovdfjorden into Tinnsjå. Tinnsjå is part of the Skien watershed, and it drains via the Tinnelva river in the south, down to the lake Heddalsvatn.[6]
| Tinnsjå | |
|---|---|
| Tinnsjø / Tinnsjøen | |
 View of the lake | |
  Tinnsjå Location of the lake  Tinnsjå Tinnsjå (Norway) | |
 | |
| Location | Tinn Municipality, Telemark |
| Coordinates | 59°58′34″N 8°48′56″E / 59.97612°N 8.81542°E |
| Type | glacial fjord lake |
| Primary inflows | Måna, Austbygdåe, Digeråi, Gjuvåi, Gøyst, Mår, Raua, Rollagåe, Skirva and Urdalsåe |
| Primary outflows | Tinnelva |
| Catchment area | 3,775.23 km2 (1,457.62 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Norway |
| Max. length | 35 km (22 mi) |
| Max. width | 2.4 km (1.5 mi) |
| Surface area | 51.38 km2 (19.84 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 190 m (620 ft)[1] |
| Max. depth | 460 m (1,510 ft)[1] |
| Water volume | 9.762 km3 (2.342 cu mi)[1] |
| Surface elevation | 187–191 m (614–627 ft) |
| Islands | Galten, Langøy and Vesleøy |
| References | Seppälä;[1] NVE[2] |
At the north end of the lake lie the villages of Atrå and Austbygdi. The village of Miland lies on the western shore of the lake. The village of Hovin lies up on a hill overlooking the eastern shore of the lake and the village of Rudsgrendi lies on the western shore. There is a small dam at the south end of the lake which regulates the surface elevation of the lake and the village of Tinnoset is located at this end of the lake. The village of Gransherad lies about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of this dam.[6]
History
editIn 1944, during the German occupation of Norway, the ferry SF Hydro was sunk in Tinnsjå by the Norwegian resistance. The Germans were using the ferry to transport a large quantity of heavy water to Germany, where it was to be used for nuclear weapons research. The heavy water had been produced at Vemork, a factory located in Rjukan.
The wreck of the ferry was discovered in 1993.[7] In 2004, it was investigated and filmed for an episode of NOVA; heavy water samples were recovered and deuterium isotopic enrichment was confirmed.
In 2004, a film crew shooting footage for a new documentary on the heavy water sabotage became aware of an unusual fish, swimming near the lake bottom at a depth of 430 metres (1,410 ft). Two specimens of the previously unknown fish were captured in April 2005. Analysis revealed the fish to be closely related to Arctic char. The light-colored, translucent fish is up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in) long and lacks a swim bladder.[8]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d Seppälä, Matti (2005). The Physical Geography of Fennoscandia. Oxford University Press. p. 145. ISBN 0199245908.
- ^ "Innsjødatabase". nve.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Sjåvik, Jan (2010). The A to Z of Norway. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 233.
- ^ Gallagher, Thomas (2010). Assault in Norway: Sabotaging The Nazi Nuclear Program. Guilford, CT: Lyons Press. p. 173.
- ^ Mead, William Richard (1965). How People Live in Norway. London: Ward Lock Educational Co. Ltd. p. 43.
- ^ a b Lundbo, Sten; Mæhlum, Lars, eds. (24 May 2022). "Tinnsjå". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Payton, Gary; Lepperød, Trond (1995). Rjukanbanen; på sporet av et industrieventyr (in Norwegian). Rjukan: Mana Forlag. ISBN 8299354919.
- ^ Mathismoen, Ole (11 May 2005). "Ny fisk oppdaget" [New Fish Discovered]. Aftenposten. Retrieved 1 February 2015.