The Lesser Lule River () is a

tributary A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream (''main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which they ...

of the Lule River in north

Norrland Norrland (, , originally ''Norrlanden'', meaning 'the Northlands') is the northernmost, largest and least populated of the three traditional lands of Sweden, consisting of nine provinces. Although Norrland does not serve any administrative p ...

, in

Norrbotten County Norrbotten County (, Meänkieli/, ) is the northernmost county or '' län'' of Sweden. It is also the largest county by land area, almost a quarter of Sweden's total area. It shares borders with Västerbotten County to the southwest, the Gulf ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

. The river, which is entirely within the municipality of Jokkmokk, is 238 km long, with a

drainage basin A drainage basin is an area of land in which all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...

of approximately 9800 km². The longest tributary of the Lesser Lule River is called ''Tarrajåkkå'' and it originates in the southern part of Sarek Fell. The river flows southeast, passing Lakes Saggat (302 amsl), Skalka (295 amsl) and Randi (284 amsl) before it reaches

Jokkmokk Jokkmokk () is a Urban areas in Sweden, locality and the seat of Jokkmokk Municipality in Norrbotten County, provinces of Sweden, province of Lapland, Sweden, Lapland, Sweden, with 2,786 inhabitants in 2010. The Lule Sámi name of the place (compos ...

. After Jokkmokk, it flows towards Vuollerim where it joins the Greater Lule River. The river's largest

tributaries A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream ('' main stem'' or ''"parent"''), river, or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries, and the main stem river into which the ...

are the Rapa (, ) and Pärl Rivers. The waterflow of the Lesser Lule River is regulated.

Hydroelectrical plants along the Lesser Lule River

The Lesser Lule River has several hydro-electric power stations on it. All of the station are owned by Vattenfall AB. These plants have cut off the traditional migratory routes followed by the Sámi in the area, causing some of the reindeer herders to have to truck the animals between the summer and winter camps.

Sources

* Vattenfall AB

References

Lule River basin Rivers of Norrbotten County {{Sweden-river-stub