The Kalix River (in Kalix dialect: kölisälva, Swedish: proper Kalix älv or in everyday language Kalixälven, Northern Sami: Gáláseatnu, In Meänkieli the lower part of the river is called Kaihnuunväylä, while the upper part is called Kaalasväylä) is one of the four major rivers of Norrland, northern Sweden, that are untouched by water power constructions. It is 461 kilometres long, flowing up to the Kebnekaise mountain range in Kiruna Municipality. In the southeast it flows through Lappland; and to the south through Norrbotten County, discharging in the Gulf of Bothnia south-east of Kalix.
| Kalix River | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | |
| Location | |
| Country | Sweden |
| County | Norrbotten |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | Gulf of Bothnia |
• location | Kalix |
• coordinates | 65°50′N 23°11′E / 65.833°N 23.183°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 450 km (280 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 18,130.1 km2 (7,000.1 sq mi)[2] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 290 m3/s (10,000 cu ft/s)[1] |
The Kalix River is the third river by length in Norrbotten, with the Torne River being 522 km and the Lule River being only slightly longer at 460.81 km
Major contributaries are Tvärån, Ängesån and Tärendö River, which is a bifurcation river taking water from Torne River.
Its largest waterfall is Jokkfall, in Överkalix Municipality.
References edit
- ^ a b "Kalixälven". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 14 July 2010. (subscription required)
- ^ "Län och huvudavrinningsområden i Sverige" (PDF) (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. Retrieved 14 July 2010.