waterfall
A waterfall is a point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf.
Waterfalls can be formed in several wa ...
in Hovet, a village in the municipality of
Hol
Hol is a municipality in Viken county, Norway.
Administrative history
The area of Hol was separated from the municipality Ål in 1877 to become a separate municipality. In 1937 a part of neighboring Uvdal with 220 inhabitants moved to Hol municip ...
in the county
Buskerud
Buskerud () is a former county and a current electoral district in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark and Vestfold. The region extends from the Oslofjord and Drammensfjorden in the southeast to Hardan ...
, in
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...
.
Some kilometers from the centre of the village Hovet, in the direction of
Aurland
Aurland () is a municipality in the county of Vestland, Norway. It is located on the south side of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Aurlandsvangen. Other villages include Bakka, ...
, is a hiking track to the Hivjufossen. The majestic waterfall is a tourist attraction and can only be reached after 40 till 60 minutes climbing. Hivjufossen consists of an upper and lower waterfall which are created by the water of the river Storekvelvi that streams from
Hardangervidda National Park
Hardangervidda National Park ( en, Hardanger Plateau National Park, no, Hardangervidda nasjonalpark), at , is Norway's largest national park. It spans from Numedal and Uvdal in the east and Røvelseggi and Ullensvang in the west across the Harda ...
to
Hallingskarvet National Park
Hallingskarvet National Park ( no, Hallingskarvet nasjonalpark) is a national park in central Norway that was established by the government on 22 December 2006. The park is located in the municipalities of Hol (Viken county), Ulvik and Aurland ( ...
. It is joined by other rivers and streams as it flows in the direction of the river Storåne in Hovet.
Deadly accidents
The waterfall came in the news when on 3 August 2007 a Dutchman (40) accidentally fell into the waterfall and was found dead some hours later. The first deadly accident took place in 1991. The victim was a Norwegian woman (44). The third victim was an American (52).
The fatal fall happened on 24 July 2016. Magne Holestøl, local guide, experienced travel guide of tourists who visit the Hivjufossen and member of the rescue team in 1991, stated in the article "Ikke trygt for turister" in the provincial newspaper NRK Buskerud ''Hivjufossen is not safe for tourists''. ''Ikke trygt for turister'' Hivjufossen-discussie
Gallery
Hivjufossen, warning sign.png, Hivjufossen, warning sign
The start of the track to the Hivjufossen 01.jpg, The former entrance sign.
File:Bridge over the river Storåni.jpg, Bridge over the river Storåni
Hike track to the Hivjufossen.jpg, Part of the track
Information board on the parking place near to the Hivjufossen waterfall.jpg, Information board near to the Hivjufossen waterfall
Hivjufossen, Storåni en Hallingdalselva.jpg, Where the Hivjufossen becomes the river Storåni
Storåni.jpg, Storåni river
Hovet, a village in Hallingdal.jpg, Hovet,in the province Viken. The Hivjufossen is visible in the central point of the picture.