Lake depth
Lake depth describes the bottom topography of Norwegian lakes and tarns, often called bathymetry. The data appears as depth contours on the map and tells you how shallow or deep the water is where you are planning a jetty, a housing project near the shoreline or a leisure facility.
The main source is NVE's lake database, which covers around 250,000 lakes and ponds larger than 2,500 m². The database takes the outlines from Kartverket's N50 Kartdata and adds hydrological information and a national serial number (Vatn-LNr) for each body of water. The serial number is the linking key to other subject data: chemical and ecological status in Vann-Nett, regulation under the Watercourse Regulation Act, and hydrological time series held by NVE.
Coverage of the depth contours themselves is uneven. Large regulated reservoirs are usually surveyed thoroughly, because the licence holder must supply survey data, while unregulated and smaller lakes often only have a set water surface elevation. The dataset is freely available under the NLOD licence through NVE Atlas, Geonorge and as a WMS service.
Depth data is used in water management under the Water Regulations, in fisheries management, and in land use planning in the shoreline zone under section 1-8 of the Planning and Building Act (the 100-metre belt). For developers and municipalities, freshwater depth is useful when assessing jetties, bathing areas and flood risk during extreme rainfall.
In Placepoint you can switch on lake depth as part of the water map layer, so that it is shown at the same level as the shoreline zone line and the watercourses around the property.
How the dataset appears on the map
The dataset is part of the map layer Coast and fishing as Lake depth (bathymetry):
From Placepoint's glossary: Lake depth
More information: NVE: Lake database, NVE Atlas
English: Lake depth.
Frequently asked questions
What is NVE's lake database?
The lake database held by Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat (NVE) contains hydrological information about roughly 250,000 Norwegian lakes and ponds larger than 2,500 m². It includes bathymetry and depth contours where such data is available.
Who needs information about lake depth?
Developers of holiday properties, jetties and bathing areas, municipalities planning shoreline zone projects, and companies working in hydropower and fish farming are among those who need this data.
How does lake depth affect property development?
Lake depth is relevant when assessing shoreline zone restrictions, the scope for boat moorings and jetties, and the risk of flooding during extreme rainfall. It gives important context for property development near water.
What is the difference between bathymetry and topography?
Topography describes landforms above water, while bathymetry describes the formations of the seabed or lake bed below water. Both are shown as contours on maps.
Where can I find depth data for Norwegian lakes?
The lake database held by Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat (NVE) and the portals run by Kartverket contain lake depth data. Placepoint shows this as a map layer where data is available, which makes it easier to analyse properties near water.