- Gjende
Infobox_lake
lake_name = Gjende
image_lake = Besseggen1.jpg
caption_lake = Lake Gjende to the left, as seen fromBesseggen , looking in the direction ofMemurubu andGjendebu . LakeBessvatnet to the right.
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location =Oppland
coords = coord|61|29|22|N|08|40|48|E|type:waterbody_region:NO|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = RiverMuru
outflow = RiverSjoa
catchment =
basin_countries = Norway
length = 18 km
width = 1.25 km
area = 15.64 km²
depth = 64 m
max-depth = 149 m
volume = 1,030 dam³
residence_time =
shore = 40.32 km
elevation = 983.7 m
islands =
cities =Gjende (or Gjendin) is a
lake in theJotunheimen mountains inNorway 'sJotunheimen National Park . Theproglacial lake shows typical characteristics of glacial formation, being long and narrow—in length 18 km and in breadth 1.5 km at the broadest point with steep walls. Gjende has a characteristic light-green color resulting from the large quantity ofrock flour which is discharged into the Gjende by theMuru river. The riverSjoa provides the outlet from Gjende atGjendesheim , and flows eastward into theGudbrandsdalslågen river.Gjende lies in the middle of Jotunheimen National Park and both to the north and south of the lake lie peaks greater than 2,000 m. There are numerous staffed tourist cabins maintained by the
Norwegian Mountain Touring Association (DNT); in the west end liesGjendebu , on the north side liesMemurubu and on the east end lies Gjendesheim. In the summer boats provide transport between these locations.Cultural and literary references
Lake Gjende is found in literature and travel books from the 18th century. Together, the
Jotunheimen lakes of Gjende andBygdin play in many such descriptions. For exampleHenrik Ibsen 's "Peer Gynt " took his famous wild-reindeer ride along "the Gjendin Ridge", a reference to either the narrow Besseggen Ridge - or the Knutshø ridge on the other side of lake Gjende.The official name Gjende is taken from the
Gudbrandsdal traditional district dialect used in Lom andVågå . In theVang dialect the lake is called "Gjendin", which is the form you find inHenrik Ibsen 's name for what is now calledBesseggen , formerly "Gjendineggen", or "Gendineggen" in the olderorthography . The name Gjende is derived from the old Norse word "gandir" that can be translated into "straight stick", whereas the lake to the southBygdin can be translated as "bent stick", the two names thereby referring to the shape of the lakes.The lake gave its name to a famous early outdoors man and free thinker,
Jo Gjende (1794 —1884 ), who had a cabin at Gjende.External links
* [http://arcus.nve.no/data/raster/dybdekart/djvu/147a.pdf Lake depth map of Gjende (Norwegian)]
* [http://www.gjende.no/en/ Gjendebåtane - "To the heart of Jotunheimen by boat"]
* [http://www.gjendesheim.no/eng_index.shtml Gjendesheim]
* [http://www.gjendebu.com/gjendebu_uk/index.php Gjendebu]
* [http://www.memurubu.no/ Memurubu (Norwegian only)]
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