Norway is known for its harsh charm of nature, the real pearls of which are the waterfalls. There are hundreds of large and small water streams in the country, ten of which are included in the list of the thirty highest waterfalls in the world. Norway owes this to its geographical relief - most of the country is occupied by mountainous terrain with the largest glaciers on the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Many of the Norwegian waterfalls serve people - their energy goes to the needs of local power plants. Therefore, their full flow can be seen only during the period of melting of mountain ice. And some, despite their abundance, flow freely, and are popular natural sites among tourists. Many legends are associated with them - for example, the most famous is the story of the Seven Sisters waterfall and the neighboring “Bridegroom”. To fully experience the beauty of Norwegian nature, you must visit at least part of the waterfalls.
The most beautiful waterfalls in Norway
Kyosfossen
The waterfall is located in the municipality of Aurland, near the Myrdal station of the Flåm railway. This is one of the most visited waterfalls in Norway. The difference in height in it is about 225 meters. A legend is associated with the waterfall about the girl Huldre, who is waiting here for her fiancé, and during the high tourist season, visitors can see a performance based on this story. The reservoir is not only a local landmark - it houses a power station that feeds the railway line.
Mardalsfossen
This is one of the ten largest European waterfalls. Its total height is about 700 meters, the highest water drop is about 300 meters, and its width is 24 meters. The name comes from Norwegian Mardalen - "dug valley". Most of the water moves in the hydroelectric system, and it is in free fall only in the summer, during the peak of tourists visiting the waterfalls.
Seven sisters
The waterfall is located in the Stranda municipality of the Møre og Romsdal province, and is part of the Geirangerfjord natural monument of global importance. This body of water gets its nickname due to the fact that it consists of seven separate streams that fall from approximately the same height. The highest height is 410 meters, the height of the water fall is 250 meters. The total width of the streams is 224 meters. Many legends are associated with the waterfall, which often affect the neighboring waterfall, which received the nickname "The Groom"
Wöhringsfossen
It is located in the Eifjord commune of the Hordaland province, on the Børeiu River. The height of this waterfall is 182 meters, while the height of the free fall of water is 145 meters. A popular tourist route begins at the foot of the water body - an old road that winds along the mountain. Like other waterfalls, Wøringsfossen is involved in the operation of a local power plant.
Langfossen
The fifth highest waterfall in Norway - the height is 612 meters. Located in the western part of the country, in the municipality of Etne on the Vaula River. This waterfall is not involved in the power supply system, and the water flow has a constant width throughout the year - about 76 meters. Langfossen belongs to the cascade type - water falls from one mountain ledge to another.
Lindalsfallet
The water body is located in central Norway, on the Lindala River. The height of this waterfall is 145 meters, of which the height of the free fall of water is 114 meters. The largest stream width is 37 meters. Sometimes it is mistakenly called "Lindalfossen", but the name of the object comes from the name of the river (Lindala) and the Norwegian Fallet - "fall".
Sotefossen
The height of this waterfall is 246 meters, the height of the free fall of water is 146 meters. It is a double waterfall, consisting of two separate streams with a total width of 28 meters. Sotefossen is located in the valley of waterfalls - Husedalen, near the village of Kinsarvik. In addition to Sotefossen, there are three more waterfalls in this valley, which are crossed by the Kinso River.
Manafossen
It is a waterfall located on the Manaana River in the municipality of Hjesdal, near the village of Frafjord. The height of the water body is 92 meters. In the list of the tallest waterfalls in the country, Manafossen ranks ninth. Next to it is a hiking trail that leads downhill to an observation deck overlooking the waterfall.
Latefossen
Located in the west of the country, in Odda municipality Hordaland county. It is one of the most popular tourist sites in Norway. Its height is about 165 meters. The waterfall is double, consisting of two streams falling from approximately the same height. It also differs in the shape of the current - in one of the sections the water makes a sharp turn at right angles, and flows almost parallel to the nearest highway.
Tvindefossen
It is a stepped or cascading waterfall, which is one of the highest in Norway. The height of the fall of the water is 152 meters. There is a legend that the water from this waterfall rejuvenates and strengthens health, while it is especially healing for men. Therefore, Tvindefossen is very popular with tourists. The waterfall is located near the Stalhei Gorge, not far from the town of Voss.
Skjerfsfossen
One of the double waterfalls with a height of 117 meters. The highest point where the water falls is at 73 meters. Width varies from 23 to 30 meters in different areas. Skjerfsfossen is located in the central part of the country, between the towns of Voss and Granvin. Within the framework of the project of National Tourist Routes in the vicinity of the waterfall, a developed infrastructure has been created for visitors to this area.
Breckefossen
It is a multi-level waterfall with a total height of 546 meters. It is located near the town of Flåm, in the municipality of Aurland in the province of Sogn og Fjordane, on the Brekkeilvi river. The water level in the river and the waterfall rises strongly in the spring, when the ice is melting. There is a hiking trail in the vicinity of Brekkefossen that is popular with visitors to the area.
Steinsdalsfossen
One of the most popular waterfalls in Norway, located on the Hardangerfjord near Norheimsund. The locals received the nickname "Kaiser-Wilhelm-Foss" - this is due to the fact that the German Emperor Wilhelm II visited this waterfall for many years. The water body is relatively small, its height is about 50 meters. There is an observation deck under the waterfall, cut right into the rock.
Ramnefjellsfossen
The highest cascading waterfall in the country, with a total height of 818 meters. The largest section of water is 600 meters. But the flow of water in it is weak, and is not used in the power supply system. There is a waterfall in the Nurfjord fjord, by the Utigardselva river, on the Ramnefjellet mountain. Ramnefjellsfossen ranks 12th among the tallest waterfalls in the world.
Friarfossen
The total height of this water body is 275 meters, of which the height of the free fall of water is 125 meters. It is located near the Seven Sisters waterfall, in the province of More og Romsdal. The waterfall received the nickname "Fiance" (Friaren) in connection with the legend of a Viking who could not choose a bride among seven sisters, and, like them, turned into a waterfall.
Rjoandefossen
Located near the village of Flam in the province of Sogn og Fjordane. The total height of the waterfall is 310 meters, the height of the free fall of water is 147 meters. The waterfall belongs to the cascade type; the length of the largest water section is about 140 meters. Width varies from 15 meters to 30 meters from May to August, when the Rjoandefossen is at its fullest.
Feigefossen
The waterfall, 229 meters high, is located in the municipality of Luster in Sogn og Fjordane. The source is located on the Khurrung mountain range.The free fall of water is from 218 to 200 meters according to different sources. It is the fourth highest waterfall in Norway and reaches its widest when the mountain ice melts. It has been used in hydropower since the 1980s.
Kjelfossen
It is the 18th tallest waterfall in the world and one of the tallest waterfalls in Norway. It is located on the Nrejfjord, near the town of Gundvangen. The object represents three water streams that merge into one whole. The total height is 705 meters, the highest point of free fall of water is 146 meters. Kjelfossen is popular with tourists for its beauty and also because of its location close to the European E-16 highway.
Winnufossen
The highest waterfall in Europe and the sixth highest waterfall in the world. It is located on the Viinu River in the Sunndal commune in Møre og Romsdal county. The highest free fall height is 420 meters. This is a multi-level waterfall of a cascade type, which reaches its greatest power during the period of melting mountain ice - in spring and early summer. Vinufossen flows into the Driva River, which is not far from the village of Holsand.
Espelandsfossen
The waterfall is located in Odda municipality, Hordaland province. Espelandfossen is 75 meters high and is divided into two streams. It is located next to the Latefossen waterfall, a 15-minute walk away. For tourists, there are convenient observation platforms overlooking the waterfall. There is another waterfall in Norway with the same name, which is located in the municipality of Granvin.
Svandalsfossen
The waterfall is located near Saudafjord, near the small village of Sauda. You can get to it by the national tourist road Rüfühlkevegen. The waterfall is cascading, with many ledges. The total height of the stream is 180 meters, and the width reaches its maximum during the rainy season (the main source of power is rainwater). For tourists, the infrastructure is developed and there are observation platforms.
Furebergsfossen
It is located in the western part of Norway, near the town of Rosendall in the Hordaland area, which is famous for its abundance of waterfalls. The height of the vertical water flow is 108 meters. The source is the southwestern part of the Folgefon glacial plateau. You can get to the waterfall on the Rd551 road, which is part of the tourist routes in Norway.
Volefossen
The waterfall belongs to the cascade type, and has a total height of about 300 meters. The height of the vertical drop of water is 185 meters. It consists of three parts - a steep stream of water from the source on the Flatebrin plateau, an almost vertical section with the greatest length, and a cascading waterfall, where water flows along mountain ledges. Volefossen is located near the Briksdalselva river, named after the Briksdal glacier.
Hellesyltfossen
This waterfall is located in the province of Møre og Romsdal, near the Geiranger fjord, famous for its abundance of waterfalls and other natural monuments. It is a famous tourist attraction. Nearby is the town of Hellesylt, which in the old days was one of the Viking ports. Now it is one of the centers of world tourism.
Stigfossen
The height of this waterfall is 239 meters, the height of the free fall of water is 180 meters. It is a cascading waterfall, where the length of the largest section of water is 122 meters. The width reaches 30 meters during the period of ice melting. It is located in the northern part of the Vestland region (western Norway). Not far from the waterfall, there is another attraction - a winding mountain trail called the "Troll Ladder"
Wettisfossen
Located in the western part of Norway, in the county of Sogn og Fjordane. The height of the free fall of water is 275 meters, the width is 23 meters. In the power supply system, the water body is not involved, and the water flow falls freely. This waterfall is known for never freezing. Due to its beauty and the scale of the stream, it has received the nickname "Queen of the Falls". Since 1924, the waterfall has been protected by the state.
Vermafossen
Located in the municipality of Rauma, Møre og Romsdal province, near the village of Verma. The total height from the source is 380 meters, the total width of the streams is 137 meters. It is part of the region's energy supply system - a hydroelectric power station was built on the waterfall. The Killing Bridge, 26 meters long, runs across the lower part of Wermafossen.
Rjukanfossen
The waterfall is located in western Norway, near the town of Rjukan. The height of the fall of the water is 104 meters. It is called the "smoking waterfall" because of the large amount of small splashes of water that resemble smoke. Now most of the flow goes to the needs of the hydroelectric power station, and you can see the waterfall in all its glory only during the active ice melting.
Strupenfossen
One of the highest waterfalls in Europe, its total height is, according to various estimates, from 820 to 480 meters. It is a cascading stream that divides into seven water sections. The height of the largest of them is 250 meters (according to other estimates, only 120 meters). Strupenfossen is located in the northern part of the province of Sogn og Fjordane, and originates from the Strupen mountain stream.
Skrijofossen
Located in Ullensvang Municipality, Hordaland Province. The total height is 455 meters, the height of the largest of the water sections is 260 meters. The source is located on the Hardanger plateau. Not far from the waterfall is the village of Loftus, where many writers and composers lived at different times, as well as a gardening zone - the Loftus gardens are known all over the world. Now it is a developed tourist area.
