Mjøsa is the largest lake in Norway and the fourth deepest in Norway and Europe.

Location

left|thumb|Map with cities [[Lillehammer (town)|Lillehammer (North), Gjøvik (West), and Hamar (East)]]

From its southernmost point at Minnesund in Eidsvoll Municipality to its northernmost point in Lillehammer Municipality, it is long.

Fish

Lake Mjøsa has 20 species of fish. Among the most common are pike, European perch, common roach, greyling, and the hundertrout, a brown trout which can reach a weight more than . Another common species is the European smelt, which is the most important bait fish for the predators. Historically, the most economically significant species is the lågsild (European cisco).

Source of drinking water

Several municipal and urban areas use the lake as their source of drinking water.

  • Hamar / Ottestad – Hias IKS has responsibility for the waterworks and waste water treatment plants in Hamar Municipality, Stange Municipality, and Løten Municipality.
  • Lillehammer Municipality –  Operates waterworks at Korgen. Contracts have been signed for a new flood-proof waterworks to be built in Hovemoen.
  • Gjøvik Municipality – WWTP run from Rambekk Renseanlegg
  • Østre Toten Municipality – Kapp / Skreia
  • Brumunddal – Biri / Moelv

Name

The lake is named "Mjøsa" ( / Proto-Norse *Merso) and this name must be very old. The meaning is possibly "the bright/shiny one". This is based on the theory that the first element *mer- is related to the English word mere which now means "just" or "only", but formerly also meant "clear" or "bright". The second element -so would be a suffix.. However, mere in this sense came into use in Middle English from Latin via French rather than from its Germanic Old English roots, making this meaning unlikely.

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File:Mjoesa-hamar.jpg|The lake seen from the harbor in Hamar

File:Mjøsa photo near Hamar.jpg|The landmark Geiteryggen looking south from Hamar

File:Mjoesa from hamar.jpg|Mjøsa from Hamar

File:SommeravslutningBibliotektjenesten1.JPG|Steamboat Skibladner on the lake of Mjøsa

File:Steinholmen - panoramio.jpg|Steinholmen on lake Mjøsa

</gallery>

Events

From 1932 to 1934, ice racing was held on the lake's northern reaches near Lillehammer. Warmer winters had forced race organisers to move racing from Gjersjøen near Oslo. The Norwegian Grand Prix was held there in 1934. The race was won by Swedish driver Per-Viktor Widengren in an Alfa Romeo 8C but poor attendance saw the Grand Prix move back to the Oslo region in 1935.

In 1975, the 14th World Scout Jamboree was held on its shores. More than 17,000 Scouts from 91 countries took part.

In 1995, a Canadian historic aircraft organization named Halifax 57 Rescue recovered a mostly intact Handley Page Halifax bomber from it, which was previously discovered in 1991 to be resting at a depth of 750 feet (228.6 m). The aircraft, NA337, was shot down at 0131 hours on 24 April 1945 while returning from a supply mission and crashed shortly after. It was later restored extensively to its original state (albeit non – flying) and is now one of only three remaining examples of the type anywhere in the world.

Culture projects

The inter-county public art collaboration project, is a model for inter-organizational cooperation and collaboration between local municipalities and counties. It is a public "land-art" project that was supported by the Oppland County Municipality and Hedmark County Municipality as well as local municipalities of Eidsvoll, Gjøvik, Hamar, Lillehammer, Ringsaker, Stange, and Østre Toten. These communities all share shoreline with Mjøsa. Det Var Jo Ingen Horizont Der, is an environmental art collaboration including the works of 12 artists' sculptural and multimedia environmental artworks installed at 20 geographic places on and around the shores of Mjøsa. The project is documented in a book and it was part of an exhibition at the Mjøsmuseet (museum) in 2019.

See also

  • Toftes Gave

References

  • Mjøskastellet (DigitaltMuseum)