Gaula (Vestland)

Gaula River
Gaula river at the entrance to Viksdalsvatnet
Location of the river Gaula (Vestland) (Norway)
Location
Country	Norway
County	Vestland
Municipalities	Sunnfjord Municipality
Physical characteristics
Source	Gaularfjelletmountains
• location	Haukedalen,Norway
• coordinates	61.45230°N 6.56982°E/61.45230; 6.56982
• elevation	775 metres (2,543 ft)
2nd source	Gaularfjelletmountains
• location	Sogndal,Norway
• coordinates	61.35498°N 6.44588°E/61.35498; 6.44588
• elevation	932 metres (3,058 ft)
Mouth	Dalsfjorden
• location	Sunnfjord,Norway
• coordinates	61.36704°N 5.68171°E/61.36704; 5.68171
• elevation	0 metres (0 ft)
Length	63 km (39 mi)
Basin size	626 km2(242 sq mi)

TheGaulais ariverlocated in theSunnfjordregion ofVestlandcounty,Norway.The 63-kilometre (39 mi) long river is the central part of theGaularvassdragetwatershed basin which covers about 626 square kilometres (242 sq mi) across the municipalities ofSunnfjordandSogndal.The river is a goodsalmonfishing river.The river runs across the whole municipality of Gaular, and the river is the namesake of the municipality.

Course

The river begins as glacial runoff in theGaularfjelletmountains and it runs through the municipalities ofSunnfjordandSogndal.Theglaciersthat feed the river areGrovabreen,Jostefonn,and Troget, all three are located just west of the massiveJostedalsbreenglacier. The river starts up in the mountains and empties into a fjord at sea level, and so the water drops over 700 metres (2,300 ft) in elevation throughout its course. This is one reason why the area is often referred to asFosselandet(lit. "the land of waterfalls" ). There are many waterfalls on the Gaular and its tributaries.

The river Gaula begins as two main branches. The northern branch begins in the mountains east of the village ofHaukedalenin Førde Municipality. That branch flows to the southwest eventually into the lakeViksdalsvatnet.The southern branch begins at the lake Norddalsvatnet on the border of the municipalities of Sunnfjord andSogndal.It flows along the border, then south into Sogndal to the lakeNystølsvatnet.The river then turns west, back into Sunnfjord municipality and it heads west until it empties into the lake Viksdalsvatnet. This lake is where the two branches join together. It then finishes its course by flowing westward, passing through the municipal center ofSande,before emptying into theDalsfjordenat Osen near the village ofBygstad.TheEuropean route E39highway crosses the river just east of the village of Sande.

Media gallery

• 
  Fossfossen waterfall
• 
  Likholefossen waterfall
• 
  Small bridge over the northern branch of the river
• 
  Vallestadfossen waterfall

See also

• List of rivers in Norway