Moelva (old spelling: Maa Elv) is a river in the municipalities of Birkenes and Lillesand in Agder, Norway. It originates from a hill south of Tveide in Birkenes and empties into the Tingsakerfjord, east of the town of Lillesand. Large parts of the disused, former railway Lillesand-Flaksvand Line followed the river bank.
| Moelva | |
|---|---|
 View of the river | |
  Location of the river  Moelva (Agder) (Norway) | |
| Location | |
| Country | Norway |
| County | Agder |
| Municipalities | Lillesand, Birkenes |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Southern hill of Søndagsheia, Tveide |
| • coordinates | 58°16′52″N 8°13′19″E / 58.2812°N 8.2219°E |
| • elevation | 175 metres (574 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Tingsakerfjorden, Lillesand |
• coordinates | 58°15′18″N 8°23′18″E / 58.2551°N 8.3883°E |
• elevation | 0 metres (0 ft) |
| Length | 20.8 km (12.9 mi) |
| Basin size | 3,454 km2 (1,334 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 1.04 m3/s (37 cu ft/s)[1] |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Lillesand-Birkenes |
An old stone bridge is still located by Helvetesfossen. It was restored by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in 1993.[2]
Hydropower edit
The hydropower company Lillesand Elektrisitetsverk was started as a private company in 1916. There were dams in all tributaries to Moelva, dam at Helvetesfossen and pipeline down to the power station at Tingsaker, that had a turbine of 150 hp, a generator of 125 kW and an oil transformer of 7 kW. The power plant was sold and closed in 1970.[3]
Fishing edit
Moelva is a sea trout leader in the lower part. It is Lillesand municipality that has been responsible for both the preparation and clearing of the riverbed and built a threshold dam in the lower part of the river. The sea trout population has recovered after a decline due to pollution.[2]
Gallery edit
The former power plant
-
Old equipment from the power plant. -
Preserved cultural monument from the former power plant. -
The power plant in 1917. -
Interior of the power plant in 1917.
References edit
- ^ Moelva, Lillesand atlas of the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (in Norwegian)
- ^ a b Lillesand kommune, Håndbok om kulturløyper, Natur- og kulturhistorie i Lillesands turområder, 1993 (in Norwegian)
- ^ Lillesands første elektrisitetsverk Lillesand Town- and Maritime Museum (in Norwegian)