Trolltunga (“The Troll’s Tongue”) is a horizontal rocky outcrop in Norway, which is about ten kilometers northeast of Odda on the Sørfjord.
The “Troll’s Tongue” was formed when a piece of rock broke away from the Skjeggedal mountain massif, however, due to its relatively light weight, it did not fall down, but hovered at an altitude of 350 meters above the river. Now under the rock “Trolltunga” there is an artificially created (as a result of a dam of the river) Lake Ringedalsvatnet. Mount Skjeggedal itself is located about 10 kilometers from the town of Odda.
This rock is a nose around 10 meters long, which tapers with a height of five meters at its beginning to a few centimeters at the top.The cliff dominates the valleys of the Hardangervidda region, it is surrounded by peaks exceeding 1,500 meters in altitude.
From 1911 to 2004 Trolltunga was accessible via the Mågelibane, a funicular, which, however, is no longer in operation due to technical problems. In the meantime, the entire distance, around 28 km there and back, has to be covered on foot. There is also a via ferrata on the mountain, which can also be used to reach the ledge.
Access : Coordinates: 60.130833, 6.754167 / Trolltunga is located in western Norway, in the county of Vestland, 17 kilometers from Odda and 190 kilometers east of Bergen.
Highlights :
- With its shape, the protrusion resembles a tongue, for which it received such a name. It is a breakaway piece of rock, frozen at its edge in a horizontal position.
- In 2009, “Troll’s Tongue” appeared on the cover of one of the popular travel magazines and a stream of tourists rushed to the rock.
- In the book of the Russian journalist Anton Chechulinsky “Troll’s tongue. A novel-investigation of the Breivik case ” one of the important scenes takes place in the Troll’s Tongue.
- Hike : The site is accessible by national road 17. From a car park located at an altitude of 443 meters, a hiking trail begins,a very challenging hike, at least 10 hours on rough terrain.
- Best time to visit : visit “Troll’s Tongue” between June and October, so as not to walk through the snowdrifts.
Go next : The town of Odda / Folgefonna glacier / Road 13 south of Odda runs across Låtefossen waterfall.
