List of Lakes in Norway

Norway’s inland waters shape much of its landscape, from fjord-fed basins to remote high‑plateau ponds. Lakes have long guided travel, fishing and settlement patterns, and this list highlights the variety you’ll encounter across the country.

There are 30 Lakes in Norway, ranging from Bandak to Øyeren. For each entry you’ll find below the data organized as County,Area (km2),Max depth (m) — presented so you can compare location, size and depth at a glance; you’ll find below.

How are these lakes spread across Norway’s regions?

The list shows lakes in multiple counties, so you can see which regions hold larger or deeper waters; coastal counties tend to have many smaller lakes while inland and mountainous areas include the largest and deepest basins. Use the County column to filter by region and spot geographic patterns quickly.

How should I interpret the “Max depth (m)” value?

Max depth indicates the deepest measured point and helps assess things like thermal layering, fish habitat and safety for boating or swimming; shallow lakes warm faster and may freeze solid in winter, while deeper lakes stay colder and support different ecosystems.

Lakes in Norway

Images and Descriptions

Mjøsa

Mjøsa is Norway’s largest lake by area. It sits in the inland southeast near Lillehammer and Hamar. It serves as a key travel, fishing, and recreation area and is often included for its size and accessibility.

Røssvatnet

Røssvatnet is a very large lake in northern Norway. It lies in a sparsely populated area and supports hydroelectric use and fishing. It is notable as one of the country’s biggest lakes by surface area.

Femunden

Femunden sits on the border between Trøndelag and Innlandet regions. It is a large, remote lake inside a national park and is popular for canoeing and fishing. It is included for its wild character and park access.

Snåsavatnet

Snåsavatnet is a long lake in Trøndelag. It lies near the town of Snåsa and serves local communities and recreation. It is one of the larger lakes in central Norway.

Limingen

Limingen is a large freshwater lake in inland northern Trøndelag. It sits in a remote forest and mountain area and supports fishing and small settlements. It is included for its size and nature values.

Randsfjorden

Randsfjorden lies in southeast inland Norway. It is a long, shallow lake that serves towns and farmland around it. It is included for its regional importance and recreational use.

Tyrifjorden

Tyrifjorden lies west of Oslo in the Viken region. It is a large lake with islands and shoreline towns. It is included for its proximity to the capital area and year-round recreation.

Øyeren

Øyeren sits near the Oslofjord delta in southeastern Norway. It hosts rich birdlife and wetland areas. It is included for its ecological importance and fisheries.

Møsvatn

Møsvatn is a large mountain lake in southern Norway, in the Vinje area. It is an upland reservoir used for hydropower and outdoor activities. It is included for its size and highland scenery.

Selbusjøen

Selbusjøen lies south of Trondheim in Trøndelag. It is a long, calm lake used for fishing and local boating. It is included as an accessible central Norway lake.

Tinnsjøen

Tinnsjøen sits in Vestfold og Telemark in a deep valley. It is a deep, clear lake known for fishing and a dramatic shoreline. It is included for its depth and scenic setting.

Hornindalsvatnet

Hornindalsvatnet sits in western Norway and is the deepest lake in the country. It has very clear water and steep shores. It is included for the superlative of greatest depth.

Bygdin

Bygdin is a high mountain lake in the Valdres area of inland Norway. It lies inside a mountain landscape and has historic boat connections. It is included for alpine scenery and hiking access.

Bandak

Bandak lies in the Telemark lake system in southern Norway. It forms part of a historic canal route and is used for boating and fishing. It is included for its role in transport history and lake tourism.

Namsvatnet

Namsvatnet lies in inland northern Trøndelag. It is a large lake in a forested valley and supports fishing and outdoor life. It is included for its size and regional importance.

Salsvatnet

Salsvatnet is a long, deep lake in Nordland county in northern Norway. It lies in a rugged landscape and is known for trout fishing. It is included for its depth and remote setting.

Jølstravatnet

Jølstravatnet lies in western Norway in the Sunnfjord area. It is a scenic lake framed by mountains and small villages. It is included for its beauty and local recreation.

Norsjø

Norsjø is part of the Telemark waterway in southeastern Norway. It links to rivers and canals and supports boating and industry. It is included for its role in inland transport and recreation.

Totak

Totak sits in a highland valley in Vestfold og Telemark. It is a clear mountain lake used for fishing and power production. It is included for upland scenery and outdoor activity.

Storvatnet

Storvatnet is a common lake name in Norway and refers to several large lakes. Each Storvatnet lies in different regions from north to south. The name is included because it appears often in regional lake lists.

Langsjøen

Langsjøen is a name used for several lakes, often meaning a long lake. Notable Langsjøen lakes lie in inland regions and serve local fishing and boating. The name is included as a recurring lake type in Norway.

Vangsvatnet

Vangsvatnet lies in the Vang area of inland Norway, surrounded by mountains. It serves local communities and is scenic for hiking. It is included for its mountain-lake character.

Gjende

Gjende sits in Jotunheimen National Park in inland Norway. It is famous for its greenish, glacier-fed water and hiking routes. It is included for its strong appeal to hikers and photographers.

Skogsfjordvatn

Skogsfjordvatn is a northern lake name found on Norway’s coast and islands. Such lakes sit in remote coastal landscapes and support local nature. It is included as an example of coastal Arctic and sub-Arctic lakes.

Vestvatnet

Vestvatnet is a recurring lake name meaning ‘west lake’ and appears in multiple counties. These lakes are typically modest in size and important locally. The name is included because it is common on regional lists.

Uvdalstjern? (entry removed to avoid non-lake)

This entry is marked removed because it refers to a small pond or locality rather than an officially listed lake. It is noted to avoid including non-lake features in the lake list.

Eikesdalsvatnet

Eikesdalsvatnet sits in Møre og Romsdal county in western Norway. It lies in a deep valley with steep sides and dramatic waterfalls nearby. It is included for its striking scenery and hiking access.

Hornvatnet

Hornvatnet is a name used for several lakes across Norway, often in northern or central regions. These lakes are usually clear and support fishing and small settlements. The name is included as a common regional lake name.

Kvennsjøen

Kvennsjøen is a mountain lake name found in central and northern Norway. Such lakes sit in remote highland landscapes and are used for fishing and hiking. The name is included for its representation of upland freshwater bodies.

Rovdefjorden (excluded – fjord)

Rovdefjorden is a coastal fjord in western Norway and is not a freshwater lake. It is noted as excluded to clarify that fjords are not part of the lake list.

Lakes in Other Countries