The Nidelva is a central part of Trondheim, and like many large and important rivers, it has several names and forms. Further up the river, it is called Nea, and in Old Norse times, it was named "Nið." But the Nidelva also has two old Sámi names: Nïejtejohka and Gånka. Nïejtejohka means "girl/daughter river," and Gånka means "king." The first name was mainly used for the section of the river below Tydalen (i.e., from Tydalen to Trondheim), while the second name was used for the section above Tydalen, which is located just north of the municipality of Røros. The source of the Nidelva is located near an old Sámi settlement area that was archaeologically investigated in 2023. 

Sources and further reading

Falkenberg, Johs. (1982). “Samiske bruksområder og stedsnav i Rørostraktene” i Jens-Anton Andersen og Sverre Fjellheim (Red.), Åarjel-Saemieh, nr. 1, Snåsa. 

Holstad, G (2023). “Tydals historie må skrives om”, Adresseavisen.