Lysefjorden, Norway

This is one of the most spectacular fjords in Norway with mountains that are more than 1000-meter high at the same time as the fjord is about 500 meter deep and 42 km in length.

The Pulpit Rock is only a short distance away. It is a massive cliff 604 metres above the fjord. The top of the cliff is approximately 25 by 25 metres, square and almost flat. Once on the edge of the top, as many hikers have experienced it, one may definitely feel the desire to jump, invited by sort of a mystic voice, in a real dream of flying, that contributes to Preikestolen's majestic reputation. It is quite normal to see people up there sitting with their feet over the edge. It has yearly about 150 000 visitors.

Some friendly goats have become an attraction among the ships that passes. A popular activity is to feed the goats from the vessels.

Another attraction is the Whisky waterfall. It is named so because the boats use to stop for water to have in their glass of whisky.

Kjærag is a very popular for base jumpers. About 3000 persons jumps from the 1000-meter high rock each year.

In the end of the fjord is Lysebotn. It is possible to rent a car and drive up to Øygardstølen (the Eagle's nest). The road consists of nearly 30 hairpin curves and there is a stunning view all the time.

Lysefjord is a form of the definite article in the Norwegian language) is a fjord located in Forsand inRyfylke in south-western Norway. The name means light fjord, and is said to be derived from the lightly coloured granite rocks along its sides.

The fjord was carved by the action of glaciers in the ice ages and was flooded by the sea when the later glaciers retreated. The geology of Lysefjorden was thoroughly investigated and described by Professor Bjørn G. Andersen in his Master's thesis (1954)On the glacial retreat in the area between the Lysefjorden and Jøsenfjorden in End to end, it measures 42 km (26 mi) with rocky walls falling nearly vertically over 1000 m (3,000 ft) into the water. Because of the inhospitable terrain, the fjord is only lightly populated and only has two villages on its length -Forsand and Lysebotn, located at opposite ends of the fjord. The few people who live or lived along the fjord are only able to leave their homes by boat, as the slopes are too steep for roads.

Lysebotn, at the far eastern end, is largely populated by workers at the nearby hydroelectric plants at Lyse and Tjodan, both built inside the mountains. At the Lyse plant, the water falls 620 m to the turbines, producing up to 210,000 kW of electricity; at Tjodan, the water falls 896 m to yield an output of 110,000 kW. The two power plants provide electricity for more than 100,000 people. A spectacular road which rises almost 900 m (2700 feet) through a series of 27 hairpin bends links Lysebotn with the outside world.

Lysefjord is an extremely popular tourist attraction and day trip from nearby Stavanger, from where cruise ships travel the full distance of the fjord. As well as the extraordinary scenery of the fjord itself, two points along its length are popular side trips. The rock ofPreikestolen, located above a vertical drop of 600 meters, can be seen from the fjord, but is more impressive from above. At the end of the fjord lies the Kjerag mountain, a popular hiking destination with even more spectacular drops.

On the east side of the fjord lies the town Lysebotn.

The world's top unspoiled travel destination

The prestigious US nature magazine National Geographic has chosen the Norwegian fjords to the worlds best destinations in both 2004 & 2009.
Lysefjorden which is one of the most popular fjords in Norway, are situated in the municipality of Forsand just outside Stavanger in the south west coast of Norway.
Hopefully you will find all information necessary on our site to plan, visit & enjoy everything this amazing fjord and surrounding areas has to offer.