Steinsdalsfossen

Steinsdalsfossen
Steinsdalsfossen
	Steinsdalsfossen is visited by 300,000 tourists each year
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Location	Vestland, Norway
Coordinates	60°22′14″N 06°06′10″E / 60.37056°N 6.10278°ECoordinates: 60°22′14″N 06°06′10″E / 60.37056°N 6.10278°E
Elevation	51 metres (167 ft)
Total height	46 metres (151 ft)
Longest drop	20 metres (66 ft)

Steinsdalsfossen (also called Øvsthusfossen or Øfsthusfossen) is a waterfall in the village of Steine in the municipality of Kvam in Vestland county, Norway. The waterfall is located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the large village of Norheimsund which sits along the Hardangerfjorden.^[1]

The waterfall is one of the most visited tourist sites in Norway. From the parking lot, the path goes along the waterfall, up a hill, and behind it where visitors can walk dryshod "into" the rumbling water. Steinsdalsfossen is 46 metres (151 ft) high,^[2] with a main drop of 20 metres (66 ft),^[3] and has the greatest volume when the snow melts in May and June. Steinsdalsfossen is part of the river that comes from the water of the lake , located 814 metres (2,671 ft) above sea level in the mountains above the waterfall.^[1]

History[]

The waterfall was formed in 1699 when the river found a new race.^[4]

The Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany visited Steinsdalsfossen every summer (apart from two years) from 1889 until the start of World War I in 1914.

At Expo 2000 (in Hannover, Germany) Norway was represented with an installation by Marianne Heske of which a 15-metre (49 ft) tall copy of Steinsdalsfossen was an important part.

In the fall
The path behind. (Photo: Willy Haraldsen)

References[]

^ ^a ^b Store norske leksikon. "Fosselva" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^ "Steinsdalsfossen – Top Waterfalls in the World". World Top Top. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
^ "Steinsdalsfossen". Veroldin. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
^ Natur Historisk Vegbok (2004) page 488, also 'Ættarbok for Kvam.'