The name evokes associations with fairy tales and mythology, and the place truly lives up to these expectations. Here, at the edge of the sea, we find a large boulder that has literally danced to the rhythm of the sea for thousands of years.
An egg-shaped rock in a pothole created by the power of the sea
Drageegget lies in a natural hollow in the rock – a pot that has slowly but surely been ground deeper and rounder over time. The phenomenon is called a pothole, and they are usually formed by rolling stones in rivers. The fact that such a formation exists here on the coast, created by the power of the sea, makes the place extra special.
When the sea rises, and the waves push under the boulder, it starts to rotate. Year after year, century after century, it has been lifted, spun and tossed around by the enormous energy of the sea. In the process, the rock itself has acted as a tool that grinds out the pot it lies in – a slow but irresistible work of nature.
Hear the sound of this natural phenomenon
What makes Drageegget unique to experience today is not just the sight of the stone; it is the sound. When the waves crash in, pushed by the tide, a deep resonant rumbling or roaring occurs under the stone – a sound that is almost reminiscent of the breathing of a sleeping creature. Many describe the experience as an encounter between natural science and fantasy. It is perhaps not surprising that the rock has been given names such as the Dragon Egg, the Troll Egg and the Stone Egg.
Explore the geological process in real time
Most of the potholes we know have long since been formed. But on the island of Eigerøy, you can actually see and hear the process in real time. Drageegget is still at work – the sea continues to spin it, grinding and grinding, millimetre by millimetre. Some estimate that it has been lying in this state for thousands of years, constantly battered by the forces of the Atlantic Ocean. This makes Drageegget more than just a tourist attraction; it is a living geological laboratory.
It is fascinating to stand there and think about how long the rock has been in this pothole, shaped by waves, storms and tides over countless generations—a real coastal gem – and without doubt one of Egersund's special attractions.
