Orkla (river)

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Orkla

| name_native =

| name_native_lang =

| name_other =

| etymology =

| image = Orkanger 03.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = The mouth of the river at Orkanger

| map = {{Infobox mapframe|wikidata=yes|zoom=6|marker=natural}}

| map_caption = Interactive map of the river

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Norway

| subdivision_type2 = Counties

| subdivision_name2 = Trøndelag, Innlandet

| subdivision_type3 = Municipalities

| subdivision_name3 = Oppdal Municipality, Orkland Municipality, Rennebu Municipality, Tynset Municipality

| length = {{convert|179|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| width_min =

| width_avg =

| width_max =

| depth_min =

| depth_avg =

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| discharge1_location =

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg = {{convert|67.27|m3/s|abbr=on}}

| discharge1_max =

| source1 = Orkelsjøen

| source1_location = Oppdal Municipality, Trøndelag

| source1_coordinates = {{coord|62.5102|09.8775|region:NO}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|1058|m}}

| mouth = Orkanger

| mouth_location = Orkland Municipality, Trøndelag

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|63.31927|09.841218|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m}}

| progression =

| river_system = Orkla

| basin_size = {{convert|3053|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

| basin_landmarks =

| basin_population =

| tributaries_left = Inna, Byna, Grana, and Resa

| tributaries_right = Ya and Svorka

| waterbodies =

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}}

Orkla{{Cite web |title=Informasjon om stadnamn |url=https://stadnamn.kartverket.no/fakta/557512 |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=Norgeskart |publisher=Kartverket |language=no}} is a river in Trøndelag and Innlandet counties in Norway. At {{convert|180|km}} in length, it is the longest river in Trøndelag county. The river follows the Orkdalen valley, discharging into the Orkdal Fjord, an arm of the large Trondheimsfjorden, at the town of Orkanger.{{cite web|url=http://www.snl.no/Orkla|title=Orkla|author=Store norske leksikon|author-link=Store norske leksikon|language=no|access-date=2011-01-27}}

The river originates in the lake Orkelsjøen, a small lake ({{convert|2.2|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}) near the watershed with the river Unna in the Glomma river system, in Oppdal Municipality in the Dovrefjell mountains. The river runs through Oppdal Municipality, Tynset Municipality, Rennebu Municipality, and Orkland Municipality. The municipalities are all in Trøndelag county, except for Tynset Municipality, which is in Innlandet county. Major towns and villages along the river include: Orkanger, Fannrem, Vormstad, Svorkmo, Storås, Meldal, Å (in Orkland Municipality); and Voll and Berkåk (in Rennebu Municipality).{{fact|date=August 2022}}

Orkla is a popular river for salmon fishing and the fourth largest in Norway by volume. About an {{convert|88|km|adj=on}} long stretch of the river through Orkland Municipality and Rennebu Municipality is used for salmon fishing throughout the season which typically runs from 1 June through 31 August.{{cite web|url=http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/sponsored/UK/Sponsored-articles/Salmon-rivers/The-Orkla-River/|title=The Orkla River|publisher=VisitNorway.com|access-date=2011-01-27}}

The river is regulated by five power generation reservoirs, which were built between 1978 and 1985. The reservoirs have been a successful method of flood control preventing the river's major seasonal flooding. The decommissioned Eidsfossen Power Station stands along the river south of the confluence with the Ya River at Yset.{{cite web |title=Eidsfossen Kraftverk |url=https://kvikne.no/kulturminner/eidsfossen-kraftverk/ |publisher=Kvikne.no |language=no |access-date=February 14, 2021}}