(Göta River), a river in southwestern Sweden. Length, 95 km; basin area, 50,000 sq km. Flows out of Vanern and into the Kattegat near Göteborg. The valley is confined to an ancient fault. The annual average discharge is 575 m3/sec, and the flow is evenly distributed. Waterfalls in the upper reaches of the river include the Trollhättan cascades (height 33 m) and other waterfalls at Lilla Edet (6.5 m) and Vargön (4.5 m). There are hydroelectric power plants, the largest of which is at Trollhättan. With the construction of the bypass canal at the Trollhättan falls, the Göta älv was made navigable over its entire length. The river forms a segment of the Göta Canal navigation route.
L. R. SEREBRIANNYI