The place

The ledge sits at about 1,100 m above sea level, on the edge of high, bare mountain plateau close to Hardangervidda. The rock is ancient Precambrian gneiss. During the last ice age, glaciers carved the deep valley below, and water freezing in cracks broke away blocks of rock, leaving the tongue-shaped ledge. Around it you see smooth bedrock, small lakes, snow patches that last into summer and wide views over the long, narrow lake. Weather in these mountains changes quickly, with fog, rain and snow possible even in summer, and the hiking season runs roughly from June to September.

History

For a long time Trolltunga was known mainly to local people and hunters. The lake below, Ringedalsvatnet, was dammed in the early 20th century to supply hydropower to industry at Tyssedal and Odda, and the trailhead lies near the dam at Skjeggedal. Fewer than a thousand people a year hiked to the ledge until around 2010. After photographs spread online, numbers rose to around 80,000 in 2016. In 2015 a hiker fell to her death, believed to be the first recorded fatal fall there. Since then, a parking area, mountain guards and better trail marking have been added.

Why it matters for the living world

The area is high alpine terrain, with thin soils, lichens, mosses, dwarf willow, heather and low grasses that grow slowly in the short summer. Reindeer roam the wider Hardangervidda plateau to the east, home to one of the largest remaining wild reindeer populations in Europe. Ptarmigan and small mammals live among the rocks. The mountains collect snow and rain that feed lakes and rivers, now largely regulated for hydropower. Vegetation in this alpine zone is easily damaged by trampling and recovers slowly, which is why heavy foot traffic can leave lasting scars along the trail.

People of the place

The nearby town of Odda and its region grew around hydropower and metal industry in the 20th century, and when some industry closed, tourism became more important. Many local people work in guiding, accommodation and services linked to Trolltunga. The ledge also brought costs: volunteer rescue teams carried out up to forty operations a year at peak, mostly for hikers exhausted or caught out on the long return trip. Local guides, landowners and the municipality have worked together to manage the trail, and mountain guards at the trailhead now advise hikers on weather and readiness.

What it faces

The main pressures are heavy visitor numbers and the risks they bring, including trail erosion, waste and human waste on fragile ground, and rescues in bad weather. Sherpa-built stone paths and better signage have improved parts of the route, and rescue numbers have dropped since guards began advising hikers at the trailhead. Climate change may affect snow, weather extremes and the alpine plants that grow here. Hydropower regulation has already changed the lakes and rivers of the valley. The ledge itself is solid, but there are no railings, and safety depends on visitor behaviour.

Sources

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