Explore lunar landscapes in a UNESCO Global Geopark

You can even stay the night in a hammock in a former tunnel. Geoparks are first and foremost areas of particular geology; however, they're also very much about the people and their stories.

Hikes in lunar landscapes

In Magma Geopark, there are 46 hikes, adventures, and places where you indirectly (and with some goodwill) get to walk on the moon. The ground you are walking on is made from the rock anorthosite – the same rock type that makes up the bright parts of the moon. Did you suddenly find yourself humming to the tune “Walking on Sunshine”? Not one hundred per cent moonlight, but still nice to march along to the rhythm. One of the hikes is the short, however steep walk to “Fladen”. Try out the 434 steps up the trolley track from 1918 and be rewarded with a fantastic view of the fjord on top.

Migaren Via Ferrata

Via Ferrata means walking on iron, and the term is used on several similar hiking trails in different countries. The trail is a 400-meter-long climbing route along the mountainside, named Migaren after the waterfall you must cross on the way. With a guide from Magma Geopark, you don’t need any climbing experience either. A challenging experience suitable for most people.

Accommodation in Tunnelstuo

Sleeping in hammocks has become increasingly popular; however, doing so in a former tunnel is probably something few people have tried before. And the views to the fjord, valley and mountainsides are spectacular! In the heart of Jøssingfjord – a mountain climber’s paradise is where you find Tunnelstuo, also a popular picnic area for cyclists passing through. If you arrive by car, the tunnel is approximately 300 metres away.

New! The untouched tourist gem Nesvåghålo

Are you looking for less-travelled-to places? Nesvåghålo is just that. Be quick, though, soon everyone will have heard of it! Nesvåghålo is a pothole formed by running water under a melting glacier. If you walk up behind Nesvåghålo, you will see a smaller pothole where the rock that dug the hole still lies in the hole. Please note that if the sea is rough and the weather is wet, you should not do the hike, as it can be dangerous. This is a hike for calm and sunny days.

The houses at Helleren

From the viewing point at Tunnelstuo, the distance is short to the two houses with the location is out of the ordinary. The houses are built under the mountainside so that the mountain forms a natural shelter – they do not have roofs, simply because they are protected by the mountain. They are several hundred years old, and archaeologists have found the remains of people living here from 6,000 years back in time. The houses are today on heritage-listed grounds. They are not open for visitors; however, you can walk up to the houses.

War history at the Jøssingfjord

Do you know your war history? If yes, you have probably heard of the Altmark affair that took place in the Jøssingfjord on 16 February 1940, where a German military ship was boarded by British naval vessels. But enough about the war. The Jøssingfjord is an experience in itself, surrounded by steep mountainsides and Helleren in the innermost part of the fjord. The fjord is also a paradise for mountain climbers, with mountains Hedlersfjellet and Profilveggen as the most popular climbing areas.

The spectacular, phallus-shaped stone formation Trollpikken

Trollpikken is a phenomenon created by the ice from the last ice age that ended more than 10,000 years ago. The area in which it is found is made up of the rock type anorthosite. Anorthosite is a rock type formed by magma (melted rock) from underneath a large mountain range some 1 billion years ago. Long before we knew that anorthosite was the same rock type found on the moon, this area was often referred to as a moonlike landscape, mostly because there was little vegetation, and it was not fertile land. The area is characterised by a landscape that is moved around by the ice, and you will see several glacial striations made by the ice that once forced its way through the landscape. The more obvious traces of this are the glacial erratics that are found in this area, which were moved back and forward by the ice. Trollpikken is such an erratic; however, it would have been moved just a short distance, and it never really broke free, but became locked in and jammed in its position once the ice melted. Trollpikken is also made of the moon rock anorthosite.

Slow living in Sogndalstrand

The small community of Sogndalstrand used to be a staple port for sailing ships. Today, you may enjoy the slow life in what is one of seven heritage-listed cultural sites in Norway. Stroll alongside old wooden houses, and visit the local country retailer, gallery, and museum. The little community is a member of the Cittaslow movement and therefore embraces all things local as well as striving for quality of life by slowing down the overall pace. The focus is on an environmentally friendly and leisurely life. Stay the night at Sogndalstrand Kulturhotell, a hotel where you are met with smiles and warmth.

Egersund

Egersund has a pleasant town centre with wooden housing from around 1750-1800. You should visit the area called “Haugen”, often referred to as Egersund’s medieval town. The town has a historical hotel, Grand Hotel Egersund, with unique architecture. It proudly stands in the heart of the town as a nice feature. You can choose to stay at a junior suite to satisfy your comfort genes with all the mod cons for a snug stay. The restaurant at the hotel, Eigra Kjøkken & Bar, should not be underestimated. With an emphasis on local ingredients, such as crisp veggies and beets from Jæren, fish and shellfish from local fishermen, and cured meats and products from local producers, they give you delicious and nutritious food on the table.