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Lærdal River

A medium-sized Vestland river

In winter, the water flow is between 15 and 25 m3 - in summer between 50 and 100 m3. Flood episodes of over 400 m3 have been measured. The water temperature varies between 0 and 20 degrees C. In the winter, the temperature is between 0 and 4 degrees - in the summer between 10 and 15 degrees.

The queen of salmon rivers

The watercourse starts in the mountains and flows into a tributary of the world's longest fjord, the Sognefjord. 1/3 of the water is used to produce electricity. Through salmon ladders, the salmon-carrying stretch has been increased from 25 to 41 km. 

Lærdalselvi is famous for its excellent sport fishing, dramatic scenery and the high average weight of the salmon. The river also has a population of large sea trout. It is called the queen of salmon rivers.

 
 

Map of Lærdalselvi

Click on the map or the button below to download a large view where you can zoom to read the texts.

Download map (PDF)
 

Developments in Lærdalselvi

The river has evolved over thousands of years - here you can see some highlights.

Click on the year to find out more.

 
 

  • The salmon establish themselves in Lærdalselvi and provide the basis for bus settlement

  • In Lærdalselvi, the salmon are caught with a net that is fixed in the river.

  • The river often changes rent and it is difficult to cultivate the land and get stable crops.

    Water is transported from the river to fields not affected by flooding.

  • Parts of Lærdalselvi are protected against flooding - crops increase and can be harvested every year.

  • Sitjenota (the salmon weir) is developed and put into use in Fjordane.

  • Larger parts of Lærdalselvi will be protected against flooding - the river will no longer change its course.

    Growth in population and land use.

  • Sitjenota is spreading in the fjords - especially in Western Norway.

    The first angler came to Lærdal in 1847. They create activity and income. The fishermen get local helpers - "klepparane".

    The Great Flood of 1860 accelerated flood protection along the river.

    The first hatchery was built in 1863 - the English have the knowledge.

  • Lærdal has established its own production of salmon flies and fishing equipment. 

    Commercial fishing in the fjord is on the rise - kilenota and artificial materials are coming - at most close to 100 sites along the Sognefjord.

  • In Lærdal , there are fewer Englishmen, replaced by salmon fishermen from other parts of the world.

    The first power plant in Lærdalselvi was built in the 1950s - a river power plant with intake and discharge over a salmon-bearing stretch.

  • Counting of spawning salmon from land began in the early 1960s. 1,059 spawning salmon were counted in 1960.

    Decision on regulation of Lærdalsvassdraget for power production.

  • 1974 - around 20,000 salmon are caught in Sognfjorden and 7,000 salmon in Lærdalselvi. After fishing, 1579 spawning salmon were registered in Lærdalselvi.

    Borgund power plant opens in 1974 - 1/3 of the water used for the production of electricity 

    The power producer is ordered to build:

    - new hatchery and release of young salmon

    - four salmon ladders that increase the salmon-carrying distance from 24 to 41 km

  • Acidification of rivers also in Western Norway.

    Growth in salmon farming means that salmon prices are falling and professional fishermen in the fjords are disappearing.

    In Lærdalselvi, fishing with shrimp as bait and fixed fishing gear is prohibited.

    Fishing in the Sognefjord regulated away

    Ban on the use of "prawn" in Lærdalselvi 1989

  • Catches in Lærdalselvi "plummet" - G. Salaris is detected in the fall of 1996. Salmon fishing is stopped. Revenues and sales disappear overnight.

    The salmon ladders were closed to prevent the spread of infection.

    In 1997, the river was treated twice to prevent the spread and eradicate the parasite.

    1999 - new detection of G. Salaris.

  • The number of spawning salmon is low in Lærdalselvi. Twenty spawning salmon were registered in 2000 and 2001, 19 in 2002.

    Half of the Sognefjord (inner stretch) will become a national salmon fjord. Farming in the outer strip can continue.

    Lærdalselvi is a national salmon river.

    Lærdalselvi is a test river for the development of new methods in the fight against G. Salaris.

  • 2012 - new method fully developed and full-scale treatment in autumn 2012.

    1,163 spawning salmon were registered in 2016.

    2017 - declaration of the Lærdalselvi river as healthy and opening of strictly regulated fishing. Fly bait only, quota of one male salmon per day per fish - all wood salmon must be released again.

    3 out of 4 salmon ladders will be reopened.

  • 2020 - no autumn surplus of salmon in Lærdalselvi - the river is closed to salmon fishing, fishing for sea trout continues,

    Improvement measures - reopening of side channels and "wedges" - increased rearing area for salmon and sea trout.

    Observation of pink salmon, but no spawning.

 
 
 

Fish in Lærdalselvi

Sea bream

Aureas that migrate to the sea are called sea aureas. In a sibling group, some may stay in the river all their lives, while others become sea lions. Sea cucumbers are mostly found in fjords and along the coast. Both juvenile and spawning fish migrate up the river in the fall and overwinter there. The sea urchin is an anadromous salmonid.

Three-pronged stinging fire

The three-spined stickleback is a small fish that lives in both freshwater and seawater. Its spines protect it, to some extent, from being eaten by larger fish. The males build nests into which they lure the females to spawn. The males look after both the eggs and the young.

Image/video: Three-spined stickleback. Male fish in spawning suit. Outside the spawning season, the herring has a silvery belly.

Eel

Large eels (>40 cm) eat a lot of fish, including young salmon. Smaller eels compete with young salmon for insect larvae in the river. Eels can grow up to 120 cm. One eel is said to have lived 155 years in a Swedish well.                                   

Flounder

Flounder is a fish in the flounder family. It can grow to 50 cm long and weigh up to 2.5 kg.  

Earwig

Grayling is an alien fish species in the Lærdal watercourse. It was probably introduced into the river in the mid-1970s. The trout is a small carp fish that resembles trout and salmon fry, but does not have a fine fin. It competes with salmon and trout fry for the same food in the river.