Gudbrand Valley

Gudbrandsdalen
District
Dovre, North Gudbrand Valley
Country	Norway
County	Oppland
Region	Austlandet
Adm. Center	Lillehammer
Area
• Total	15,340 km2 (5,920 sq mi)
Population (2004)
• Total	69,824
• Density	4.6/km2 (12/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Gudbrandsdøl

Gudbrandsdalen (English: Gudbrand Valley) is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer and the lake of Mjøsa, extending 230 kilometers (140 mi) toward Romsdalen. The river of Gudbrandsdalslågen (Lågen) flows through the valley, starting from Lesjaskogsvatnet and ending at Mjøsa. The Otta river flowing through Otta valley is a major tributary to Lågen. The valleys of the tributary rivers such as Otta and Gausa (Gausdal) are usuall regarded as part of the Gudbrand Valley. The total area of the valley is calculated from the areas of the related municipalities.

Together with Glomma river and Østerdalen, Lågen and the Gudbrand Valley forms Norway's largest drainage system covering major parts of East Norway. The Gudbrand Valley is home to Dovre Line and the E6 road, and is the main land transport corridor through South Norway, from Oslo and central eastern lowlands to Trondheim and Møre og Romsdal.

The valley is divided into three parts: Norddalen (the municipalities of Lesja, Dovre, Skjåk, Lom, Vågå and Sel), Midtdalen (the municipalities of Nord-Fron, Sør-Fron and Ringebu), and Sørdalen (the municipalities of Øyer, Gausdal and Lillehammer). The valley has two district courts, north and south. Until 2016 the valley was also a police district.