Cathrin's world - Mountains


	Half of Norway's land mass lies above the timberline, and twenty of our highest mountains reach 2,3 km (1.42 miles) above sea level. The mountains are the place we go for a feeling of freedom, and for unique experiences.


	*Jotunheimen*
	Jotunheimen is a practically undisturbed area of majestic mountains, fertile valleys, glaciers and large lakes. In this area you find Norway's highest peaks: Galdhøpiggen, Glittertind and Hurrungane. The name Jotunheimen is influenced by Norse mythology – it means "home of the trolls".



					Jotunheimen got status as a national park in 1980, and has an area of 1 145 sq. km (442 sq. miles). You will find large lakes, as Gjende and Bygdin, and Jotunheimen holds the altitude record for a large number of Norway's mountain flora. Some species have survived the last Ice Age, and are only found in scattered mountain areas around the North Atlantic.



	Hurrungane is the wildest part of the Jotunheimen mountains, and can be accessed via Sognefjellsvegen, the most scenic mountain pass between eastern and western Norway. The area has for more than 100 years been one of Norway's most popular mountain walking areas, and is also an eldorado for climbers.



			The emerald green mountain waters, colored by the silt from the glaciers also put their distinctive mark on the mountainous parts of Jotunheimen.


			It is estimated that Jotunheimen yearly has 500 000 visitors, and 30 000 people walk the sharp ridge of Besseggen each year.




	*Galdhøpiggen*
	is Norway's highest mountain, 2 469 m (8,100 feet) high, and is located in Jotunheimen.


	Gaustatoppen
	Gaustatoppen is 1 883 m (6,177 feet) high, and southern Norway's highest peak. The view is spectacular, and on a clear day you get an overview of 50 000 sq. meters (19,307 feet) – which equals 1/6 of Norway.


	*Valdresflya*
	From the highest point along this national road across Valdresflya (1 389 m / 4,557 feet), you get the feeling of being in an awesome plateau landscape, with rounded mountain formations to the east and the high jutting Jotunheimen peaks to the west, peaks that make up by far the most 2000-meter peaks in all of Norway.


				*Gamle Strynefjellsveg*
				Gamle Strynefjellsveg, built by hand over 100 years ago, is one of our most beautiful national roads. The road is 26 km (16 miles) long, and closed in the winter due to heavy snowfall. For many years, the gravel road was the only connection between east and west, but in 1977, a new road opened that is open the whole year.



	*Trollstigen*
	Trollstigen can be translated to "The Trolls Path", and is one of our most famous mountain roads. It climbs the mountain side in 11 bends, and has an incline ratio of 1:12. The road was under construction for eight years, and opened in 1936.

Sognefjellsvegen

The Sognefjell road, the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe, has accommodated vehicles since 1939 when the road was built by unemployed youth.

They could only work during the summer months, but even so the workers often experienced snowstorms and stormy weather.


	Stone and earth were removed by shovels, picks and wheelbarrows. It took the 200 youths two years to complete the 20 km (12.6 miles) road section, with the highest point 1 434 m ( 4,705 feet) above sea level.


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	*I did it my way...*


	©

Lene Cathrin Thodock
2002/2003