The Gudenå is 160 km and the closest we in Denmark come to a “real” river. The river originates in Tinnet Krat northwest of Tørring and has its outlet in Randers Fjord at Randers Bro.
From here, the Gudenå stretches out into Randers Fjord and forms a river delta with a number of small islands. This delta is one of the few large inland deltas in Denmark, as it was formed at the mouth of Randers Fjord and not directly in the sea.
In the past, the Gudenåen was one of Jutland’s main roads with settlements and later villages along the river. It was mainly peat and agricultural goods and, with the establishment of the Papirfabrikken in Silkeborg in 1844, paper that was transported. Today, Gudenåen attracts many tourists and over 10,000 row on the river annually in either a canoe, kayak or rowing boat.