Hornindalsvatnet

Hornindalsvatnet is Norway's and Europe's deepest lake,^[2] and the world's fourteenth deepest lake, officially measured to a depth of 514 m (1,686 ft). Its surface is 53 m (174 ft) above sea level, which means that its bottom is 461 m (1,512 ft) below sea level.

Hornindalsvatnet
Lake view from Grodås
Hornindalsvatnet
Location of Lake Hornindalsvatnet
Location	Møre og Romsdal and Vestland
Coordinates	61°56′N 6°19′E
Type	glacial fjord lake
Primary inflows	Horndøla, Melheimselva (Heggjadalselva), Sindreelva and Vikaelva
Primary outflows	Eidselva
Catchment area	381.68 km2 (147.37 sq mi)
Basin countries	Norway
Max. length	24 km (15 mi)
Max. width	3.3 km (2.1 mi)
Surface area	50.76 km2 (19.60 sq mi)
Average depth	237.6 m (780 ft)
Max. depth	514 m (1,686 ft)
Water volume	12.06 km3 (2.89 cu mi)
Shore length1	65.64 km (40.79 mi)
Surface elevation	53 m (174 ft)
Islands	Bjørnaholmen
References	Hornindalsvatnet Data[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The village of Grodås lies at the eastern end of the lake in Volda Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county and the village of Mogrenda is located on the western end of the lake in Stad Municipality in Vestland county. The European route E39 highway runs near the lake. The village of Heggjabygda and Heggjabygda Church lie on the northern shore of the lake.

Its volume is estimated at 12 km³ (2.9 cu mi), its area is 51 km² (20 sq mi) and ranks 19th in area among Norway's lakes. The main outflow is the river Eidselva, which flows into the Eidsfjorden, an arm off the main Nordfjorden.

The deepest point of the lake was explored using a ROV in 2006.^[3] A small white fish was discovered on the lake bottom – probably a new species of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). It was previously also located in Lake Tinn, Norway's third deepest lake.^[4]

The lake is the site of the Hornindalsvatnet Marathon, held annually in July.^[5]

See also

• List of lakes of Norway