DOI article:
Michelsen, Peter: Irrigation in Norway and elsewhere in Northern Europe
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49002#0256
IRRIGATION IN NORWAY
AND ELSEWHERE IN
NORTHERN EUROPE
By
Peter Michelsen
The obvious assumption that inside Europe
irrigation belongs only to the semi-arid
zones of the Mediterranean countries does
not hold good. In the last issue of Tools &
Tillage we saw that irrigation has been prac-
tised in several valleys of the Alps although
precipitation was not particularly low
(Michelsen 1986). The same applies to large
parts of Central and Northern Europe, and
this article looks at the irrigation which was
formerly carried out in some valleys in
Norway.
The observations referred to were made in
1951 (Michelsen 1953). Previously, irriga-
tion in that part of Norway had been studied
by Gudmund Hatt, the Danish scholar of
human geography (Hatt 1915). In addition,
the subject has been frequently, but briefly
touched upon in Norwegian topographic
and agricultural literature from the middle of
the 18th century, though there has been no
overall treatment of the subject. The follow-
ing description of irrigation in Norway is
based partly on the scattered occurrences in
literature, and partly on the author’s own
observations. With regard to this description
as well as the succeeding comparison with
meadow irrigation in Sweden and Denmark
etc., full documentation is to be found in the
notes to the earlier work on the subject
(Michelsen 1953).
Irrigation in Norway
The region where irrigation has been mainly
practised is the large valley of Gudbrandsdal
in the central southern part of Norway.
This valley runs northwest to southeast
and is drained by the River Lagen. Old-
fashioned irrigation is recorded in the west-
ern side valleys and was especially charac-
teristic of the side valley drained by the
River Otta. The examples observed in 1951
all belong to this valley.
Part of the reason for irrigation in this reg-
ion is the low precipitation. The area is sur-
rounded by mountains, but especially in the
direction from which the westerly and
south-west winds bring rain. Most winds
have given off humidity in western Norway
before reaching the Gudbrandsdal (fig. 1).
Average precipitation in the Otta valley at
four stations ranges from 275 to 350 mm a
year. That is not much, but should of course
be estimated with attention to the short
period of heavy evaporation.
In spite of the low precipitation there is
normally plenty of water in the brooks com-
ing down from the mountains, so there is no
need for water lifting devices. The farmers of
the Gudbrandsdal always got their water for
irrigation from places higher than the fields
to be watered.
In the narrow valleys there is usually just a
AND ELSEWHERE IN
NORTHERN EUROPE
By
Peter Michelsen
The obvious assumption that inside Europe
irrigation belongs only to the semi-arid
zones of the Mediterranean countries does
not hold good. In the last issue of Tools &
Tillage we saw that irrigation has been prac-
tised in several valleys of the Alps although
precipitation was not particularly low
(Michelsen 1986). The same applies to large
parts of Central and Northern Europe, and
this article looks at the irrigation which was
formerly carried out in some valleys in
Norway.
The observations referred to were made in
1951 (Michelsen 1953). Previously, irriga-
tion in that part of Norway had been studied
by Gudmund Hatt, the Danish scholar of
human geography (Hatt 1915). In addition,
the subject has been frequently, but briefly
touched upon in Norwegian topographic
and agricultural literature from the middle of
the 18th century, though there has been no
overall treatment of the subject. The follow-
ing description of irrigation in Norway is
based partly on the scattered occurrences in
literature, and partly on the author’s own
observations. With regard to this description
as well as the succeeding comparison with
meadow irrigation in Sweden and Denmark
etc., full documentation is to be found in the
notes to the earlier work on the subject
(Michelsen 1953).
Irrigation in Norway
The region where irrigation has been mainly
practised is the large valley of Gudbrandsdal
in the central southern part of Norway.
This valley runs northwest to southeast
and is drained by the River Lagen. Old-
fashioned irrigation is recorded in the west-
ern side valleys and was especially charac-
teristic of the side valley drained by the
River Otta. The examples observed in 1951
all belong to this valley.
Part of the reason for irrigation in this reg-
ion is the low precipitation. The area is sur-
rounded by mountains, but especially in the
direction from which the westerly and
south-west winds bring rain. Most winds
have given off humidity in western Norway
before reaching the Gudbrandsdal (fig. 1).
Average precipitation in the Otta valley at
four stations ranges from 275 to 350 mm a
year. That is not much, but should of course
be estimated with attention to the short
period of heavy evaporation.
In spite of the low precipitation there is
normally plenty of water in the brooks com-
ing down from the mountains, so there is no
need for water lifting devices. The farmers of
the Gudbrandsdal always got their water for
irrigation from places higher than the fields
to be watered.
In the narrow valleys there is usually just a