Tovdalselva or
Topdalselva (literally: the
Tov valley river) is long and is one of the longest
rivers in
Southern Norway. The river flows from the northeast to the southwest and reaches the sea at the Tofdalsfjorden between
Hamresanden and
Kjevik. The upper reaches of the river include many lakes such as the
Herefossfjorden and the
Straumsfjorden (the largest lake on the river). It drains about in territory and the highest point is above sea level. The
drainage basin includes parts or all of the following municipalities:
Fyresdal,
Valle,
Bygland,
Evje og Hornnes,
Åmli,
Froland,
Grimstad,
Birkenes,
Iveland,
Lillesand, and
Kristiansand.