Thursday, 2 August 2012
Preikestolen or Prekestolen or Pulpit Rock, Norway
Preikestolen or Prekestolen, also known by the English translations of Preacher's Pulpit or Pulpit Rock, and by the old local name Hyvlatonnå (“the carpenter-plane’s blade”), is a massive cliff 604 metres (1982 feet) above Lysefjorden, opposite the Kjerag plateau, in Forsand, Ryfylke, Norway. The top of the cliff is approximately 25 by 25 metres (82 by 82 feet), almost flat, and is a famous tourist attraction in Norway.
The tourism at the site has been increasing, around 2012, the plateau was each year visited by between 150,000 and 200,000 people who took the 3.8 km (2.4 mi.) hike to Preikestolen, making it one of the most visited natural tourist attractions in Norway.
Access
The Pulpit Rock is located in Ryfylke, Rogaland, a county in Western Norway. The city of Stavanger, the fourth largest in Norway, is located only 25 kilometers from the site, and the parking facility of the Pulpit Rock is located about one hour from Stavanger by ferry and car.
The road to the site ends at a parking facility at Preikestolen Fjellstue. A trail extends from the parking facility to the site, which goes through a variety of mountain landscapes. A trip to Preikestolen from the closest car park takes about 3-4 hours for a round-trip hike.
The walk to Preikestolen is very steep in places. The path starts at the Preikestolhytta, at an elevation of approximately 270 metres (886 feet) above sea level, and climbs to 604 metres (1982 feet). The hike takes 1-3 hours depending on experience and fitness level. Even though the elevation differential is only 334 metres (1096 feet) and the walk is not particularly long (3.8 km each way), the total elevation gain and loss over the course of the hike is more than one might initially expect, as the path climbs and descends various ridges.
The walk is not recommended in winter and spring when there is snow and ice, and the track may be slippery. Best season to hike the trail is from April to October. Sturdy shoes and rain gear are recommended for the hike.
An alternative to the site is available year round: a ferry trip sails beneath the Pulpit rock through the Lysefjord. The weather other than in the summer can be wet and cold, and clouds can then prevent seeing the rock. The ship stops at several small docks on the way in & out, including a layover at the end of the Lysefjord
Safety
In 2006 alone, 90,000 people visited Preikestolen during the four summer months. Nevertheless, to this day no safety railing has been constructed on the edge of the cliff so as not to harm the natural beauty of the cliff. Despite the insecure gorge, there have been no accidents at the site, but there have been suicides and suicide attempts. In February 2000, an Austrian woman and a Norwegian man committed a joint suicide by jumping together off the cliff after meeting on the internet and forming a suicide pact. In October 2004, a young German couple were on their way to the cliff to commit suicide but were stopped in time by the Norwegian authorities
One thing that does happen every year though is hikers injuring themselves on the journey to or from the plateau, and many have had to be brought back due to a sprained ankle.
Formation
The cliff was formed during the Ice age, about approximately 10,000 years ago, when the edges of the glacier reached the cliff. The water from the glacier froze in the crevices of the mountain and eventually broke off large, angular blocks, which were later carried away with the glacier. This is the cause of the angular shape of the plateau. Along the plateau itself there continues to be a deep crack. The cracks show that the plateau will at some point fall down, but all the geological investigations have revealed that this event will not happen in the forseeable future, and the geologists have thus confirmed the safety of the plateau.
Climate
Along the fjord there is a mild and humid coastal climate.
Surrounding landscape
The cliff overlooks the densely and colorful green valleys of the Ryfylke region. The mountains surrounding the cliff reach heights of up to 843 meters. Some of the hilltops have plains which are interspersed with lakes.
The nearby mountain Kjerag (which reaches the height of 1,110 meters, near the bottom of the Lysefjord) is also a very popular hiking destination, and some actually rather go there due to the increasing popularity Preikestolen has gained, which has led to it becoming more crowded in comparison to Kjerag.
Trivia
A granite sculpture of the cliff was erected in the town Langeskov in Denmark to commemorate its twin town Forsand.
Gallery
Preikestolen
View from Preikestolen, Lysefjorden below
Panoramic view from Preikestolen on Lysefjorden
Preikestolen, June 2009
On top of Preikestolen, June 2009
Preikestolen and surrounding area
View of Preikestolen in B&W
Amazing Luxury Tropical Island Yacht Concept : A Private Paradise
Amazing Luxury Tropical Island Yacht Concept : A Private Paradise
Everyone dreams of exceptional things wainting to happen, of memories waiting to be gathered and of creative ways to explore the surrounding world. This fascinating tropical island yacht project is a dream come true for its designers, the UK based yacht design company Yacht Island Designs. The floating tropical island would be made out of steel and would measure 90 meters in length, plenty of room to build a luscious and luxurious environment that would sail away in the sunset. A volcano built on the yacht guides water flowing down to the pool, where huts and luscious greenery surround it. The concept yacht was called the Tropical Island Paradise. A retractable beach deck in the back of the yacht presents an additional comfortable relaxation zone. With four VIP guest suites and a fascinating owner’s suite built into the volcano, the yacht is equipped with high-end features like a cinema, library, games room, gym and sauna. This is an introduction to luxury yachting – themed yachts – and the idea seems to be an exciting new venture in the world of custom, luxurious yacht design. Love or hate the concept?
Kjeragbolten, Norway.
Kjerag or Kiragg is a Norwegian mountain, located in Lysefjorden, in Forsand municipality, Ryfylke, Rogaland. Its highest point is 1110 m above sea level, but its northern drop to Lysefjorden attracts most visitors. The drop is 984 m (3,228 ft) and it is also the site of Kjeragbolten, a 5 m³ stone located between two rocks.
Kjerag is a popular hiking destination. Some go there because Preikestolen has become too crowded, some to jump onto Kjeragbolten and some BASE jumpers from all over the world go there to dive off the high cliffs. Kjerag is also a popular climbing destination, with many difficult routes going up its steep faces.
The easiest ascent starts from the visitors center Øygardsstølen, with a 2.5-3-hour walk each way. From Stavanger, it is roughly a 2-hour drive (closed in winter season). One can also take the tourist ferry from Lauvvik to Lysebotn in summer. The best season for walking is considered late June to September depending on snow conditions
Kjeragbolten
Kjeragbolten is a 5 m³ boulder wedged in a mountain crevasse by the edge of the Kjerag mountain (59°2′0.83″N 6°35′32.79″E). It is possible to walk onto the rock without any equipment, but there is a direct 241 m drop below and then another 735m gradient down to Lysefjorden. The name means "Kjerag Boulder" or "Kjerag Bolt".
BASE jumping
Kjerag has become a popular BASE jumping destination. In the period 1994 to 2008 29,000 jumps were performed.
In this period there were ten fatal accidents. A list of jumpers who perished at Kjerag is provided below:
Sebastian Dectot (24, from France), August 16, 1996
Ulla-Stina Östberg (46, from Sweden), July 29, 1997
Thor Alex Kappfjell (32, from Norway), July 6, 1999
Kirill Goretov (29, from Russia), August 15, 1999
Terry Forrestal (52, from United Kingdom), June 10, 2000
Valentino Venturi (30, from Italy), August 5, 2000
Lori Barr (37, from USA), July 23, 2002
Rob Tompkins (30, from USA), September 12, 2002
Darcy Zoitsas (nickname Peter Pan) (39, from Australia), July 19, 2005
Anton Knestyapin (25, from Russia), July 25, 2010
View from Kjeragbolten, Lysefjorden below
Tour skating
Tour skating is a sport and recreational form of long distance ice skating on natural ice.
The Nordic style of tour skating is popular in the Nordic countries, especially Sweden, but increasingly in Finland and Norway, where it is respectively called långfärdsskridsko (Swedish), retkiluistelu (Finnish) and turskøyting (Norwegian). In Canada and the USA this style is often called Nordic skating. Other names used are trip skating and wild skating.
Another sport of skating, which is popular in the Netherlands, is called toerschaatsen (Dutch).
While the Nordic skating usually involves choosing your own tours over the ice, in the Netherlands skaters follow marked routes on frozen canals and lakes. Consequently the equipment used and safety requirements differ very much between these two skating sports.
Nordic skating was developed during the 1900's in Sweden from the original Dutch Skating which is another sport. Nordic skating is not known nor practised in the Netherlands. Nordic skating usually involves choosing your own tours over the free ice in groups with all safety equipment. Nordic skating is only practised on free and open ice, not in tracks nor other manmade iceways. Nordic skates differ significally from the Dutch tourskates.
Nordic equipment
Nordic tour skates are fitted with a blade approximately 50 cm long and are attached with bindings to specialized boots similar to walking boots or cross country skiing boots, often with a free heel. Since tour skating often involves walking between lakes or around sections not suitable for skating, the fact that the blades can be easily removed from the boots is convenient.
In addition the following safety equipment is often recommended:
Ice claws
ice prods or ice claws - a pair of metal spikes with handles like sharpened screwdrivers for hauling yourself out of holes in the ice
ice pike or hansa pole - a pole with a metal spike like a particularly sturdy skipole used to test the ice thickness
throwing line - a rope to be pulled out of the water by
rucksack with waistband and groin strap containing a change of clothes in plastic bags. This also acts as a buoyancy aid.
Knee and elbow pads and a helmet are also commonly used.
Skating season
In late autumn/early winter the small lakes freeze first, sometimes as early as October. If snow falls these lakes can become unskateable. Next the somewhat larger lakes freeze and become skateable.
In January-February parts of the archipelago in the Baltic sea often freeze. This is the time when long skating tours can be undertaken. Tours of 60–80 km in one day are not uncommon - some skate over 150 km.
Associations
Sweden's largest tour skating association is The Stockholm Ice Skate Sailing and Touring Club (SSSK) (Swedish). Finland's largest tour skating association is Finland's Tour Skaters (Finnish). Several associations in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, and U.S.A. are members of Skridskonätet (Skridsko Net). Through Skridskonätet, the members of the various associations share information on where ice suitable for skating can be found. Skridskonätet also maintains a list of tour skating clubs (Swedish) in mainly Sweden, Finland and Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch skating is called Toerschaatsen, where skaters follow marked routes on frozen canals and lakes, which are coordinated by the Royal Netherlands Skating Union.
Despite its moderate climate in which real cold winters are rare, skating is traditionally the most popular winter pastime in the Netherlands. Thousands of Dutch leap at the chance in cold winters to tie up their skates and glide across frozen lakes and canals, and sports stores all over the country sell out their skates.
Dutch equipment
The skaters mostly use common such skates with long blades or speed skates, with long blades rigidly attached to the skating shoes. Ice-poles and other safety equipment are not carried.
Dutch skating tracks
The Netherlands is home of Elfstedentocht, a 200 km distance skating race of which the tracks leads through the 11 different cities in Friesland which is a northern province of the Netherlands.
Skate tracks on natural ice are maintained by the towns and communities, who take care of the safety of the tracks.
A make-shift restaurant on a frozen lake, Netherlands.
A make-shift restaurant on a frozen lake, Netherlands.
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