Reisaelva
{{Short description|River in Norway}}
{{Infobox river
|name=Reisaelva
|name_other=Reisa River
|length={{convert|90|km}}
|source1_location=Nordreisa
|mouth_location=Reisafjorden
|image=The Reisadalen looking downstream.JPG
|image_caption=Looking downstream of Reisaelva
|source1_coordinates={{coord|69.303763|21.997978}}|mouth_coordinates={{coord|69.781972|21.012469|display=title,inline}}|country=Norway|subdivision_name1=Norway|subdivision_type1=Country|subdivision_type2=County|subdivision_name2=Troms}}
Reisaelva or Reisa River ({{langx|se|Ráiseatnu}}, {{langx|fkv|Raisinjoki}}){{Cite web |title=Kvenske stedsnavn |url=https://www.kvenskestedsnavn.no/stedsnavn/view/6633 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=www.kvenskestedsnavn.no}} is a river in Northern Norway, located in the county of Troms. It runs from the lake Reisavannet in Nordreisa Municipality through the Reisa Valley and empties into the Reisafjorden in Kåfjord.{{Cite web |title=About the national park |url=https://reisanasjonalpark.no/en/about-the-national-park/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Reisa Nasjonalpark |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Thorsnæs |first=Geir |date=April 24, 2020 |title=Reisaelva |url=https://snl.no/Reisaelva |access-date=May 3, 2023 |website=Store norske leksikon |language=no}}{{Cite web |title=208/1 Reisavassdraget (Ráiseatnu) - NVE |url=https://www.nve.no/vann-og-vassdrag/vassdragsforvaltning/verneplan-for-vassdrag/troms-og-finnmark/208-1-reisavassdraget-raiseatnu/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=nve.no |language=no}}
The river is approximately {{convert|90|km}} long, making it one of the longest rivers in Troms.{{Cite web |title=Packraft in Reisaelva {{!}} Amazing Drums |url=https://amazingtroms.com/en/sommersesong/packraft-i-reisaelva/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Amazing Troms |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Fishing in Reisa |url=https://reisanasjonalpark.no/en/fishing-in-reisa/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Reisa Nasjonalpark |language=en-GB}}
Multiple fish in the river weighing over {{convert|20|kg}} have been caught.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=Fishing - Reisa Lodge |url=https://reisalodge.com/salmon-fishing/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=Sea trout - Reisa Lodge |url=https://reisalodge.com/salmon-fishing/sea-trout/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |language=en-US}} A total of {{convert|481|kg}} of salmon, sea trout, and char were caught in 2019.
Etymology
The name “Reisaelva” is derived from the Northern Sámi language, one of the region's indigenous languages.
In Northern Sami, the river is called “Raisjohka,” which is a compound word made up of “rais” and “johka.” “Rais” means “flat” or “level,” while “johka” means “river.” Therefore, “Raisjohka” roughly translates to “flat river” in English.
Over time, the name has been adapted to the Norwegian language. It is now commonly referred to as "Reisaelva" in Norwegian. “Reisaelva” is from the Norwegian word meaning to rise.
Other information
The Sámi people have lived in the area for thousands of years, relying on the river and its tributaries for fishing and reindeer herding.{{Cite web |title=Sami {{!}} People, History, & Lifestyle {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sami |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Chandler |first=Gemma |date=2019-12-17 |title=Fascinating facts about the Sámi people |url=https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geography/general-geography/sami-people-facts/ |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=National Geographic Kids}} Today, the Reisaelva River and the surrounding area are protected by various conservation measures, including the Reisa National Park and the Reisaelva Salmon Management Board.{{Cite web |title=Reisa National Park {{!}} The Far North, Norway {{!}} Attractions |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/troms/attractions/reisa-national-park/a/poi-sig/1544182/1319554 |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=Lonely Planet |language=en}}