The Stunning Cliffs of Norway

twistedsifter

14 years ago

preikestolen pulpits rock preachers rock The Stunning Cliffs of Norway

PREIKESTOLEN aka PREACHER’S PULPIT aka PULPIT ROCK

Pulpit Rock or Preikestolen in Norwegian, is one of the area’s most popular and tourist attractions. This natural rock formation with a 25 meter squared (82 ft x 82 ft) plateau stands 604 meters (1,982 ft) above the sea. Thousands of tourists visit the Rock every year. The trip takes about two hours by foot, but the rock formation can also be enjoyed from the sea by boat. The original name of the rock formation is “Hyvlatonnå” – which means the tooth of a woodplane.

There is a trail from the Pulpit Rock lodge through different mountain landscapes. A trip to Preikestolen from the closest car park and Norwegian Mountain Touring Associations-staffed refuge Prekestolhytta takes about 3-4 hours for a round trip hike.

Photograph by Aconcagua

Photograph by Ipso

Photograph by Ritchyblack

Photograph by Ove Hetland

KJERAG & KJERAGBOLTEN

Kjerag or Kiragg is a Norwegian mountain, located in Lysefjorden, Rogaland. Its highest point is 1110 m (3,642 ft) above sea level, but its northern drop to Lysefjorden attracts most visitors. The drop is 984 m (3,228 ft) and is just by the famous Kjeragbolten, a 5 m³ (177 cubic ft) stone which is plugged between two rocks.

Kjerag is a popular hiking destination. Some come there because Preikestolen has become overcrowded. There are also quite a lot of BASE jumpers from all over the world that go there to dive off the high cliffs. Kjerag is also a popular climbing destination, with many difficult routes going up its steep faces.

The easiest ascent starts from the visitors center Øygardsstølen, with a 2.5-3 hour strenuous walk each way. From Stavanger, it is roughly a 2 hour drive (closed in winter season). Kjerag has become a popular BASE jumping destination. In the period between 1994 and 2008, 29,000 jumps were performed! During this period there were nine fatal accidents 🙁

Photograph by PetterPhoto

Photograph by Christian Toennesen

Photograph by IGotVision

Photograph by FourElevens

Photograph by Dan:0)el

TROLLTUNGA aka TROLL’S TONGUE

Trolltunga is a piece of rock that stands horizontally out of the mountain above Skjeggedal in Odda, Norway. To get to Trolltunga, which is Norwegian for “Troll’s tongue”, you need to go to Odda, then to Skjeggedal via Tyssedal. Previously a trolley car transported visitors the first 950 meters above sea level during the summer. There are however both stairs and a path that will take you the first 950 meters, and from there marked hiking trails will take you the rest of the way.

For a family with young children the hike there and back will take at least 6 hours. -There are cabins in the area owned by the Norwegian Trekking Association where it is possible to spend the night. The area opens up to the rest of Hardangervidda, and can be a starting point for a longer hike to for example Hårteigen.