Kjelfossen Waterfall: The World’s 18th Largest Fall
I recently had the pleasure of experiencing Norway in a Nutshell – a tour that took me through Bergen, Gudvangen, Undredal, Kjelfossen Waterfall, Flam, Geilo, and Oslo. Gudvangen, a Viking valley with quaint, wooden houses and two Scandinavian-style hotels, was my first stop. I then took a cruise to Flam, where I was treated to a 45-minute layover – a perfect opportunity to grab a bite to eat at the local restaurant and snap some pictures of the boat parked nearby.
As I gazed upon the massive mountains on both sides of me, and the entrance to Norway’s most famous fjord from my majestic vantage point, I took in the Viking-inspired carvings and creations of the magnificent boat I was about to set sail on. I felt as if I was on a time machine ready to take me back to the ice age world. As the cruise gracefully drifted along, it brought me to the picturesque Undredal village. When the voyage left, I was viewing the incredible Gudvangen village. What an amazing experience!
As I turned right, I was met with the quaint village of Undredal, famous for housing Scandinavia’s tiniest church – which is often the destination of choice for adventurous hikers. To the left lay Kjelfossen – the most impressive waterfall of all time – a true testament to the majestic beauty of the 11th century, which has been plunging down these imposing ice-age mountains for thousands upon thousands of years. What a sight to behold!
As we marched on, the frame gradually transformed into a kaleidoscope of kayakers, shutterbugs, cruisers, bikers, and hikers, all of them on a mission to explore Norway in their own unique fashion. It was a perfect day – baby blue skies, peppered with a few puffy clouds, made for a stunning summer afternoon. Those incandescent morning dewdrops drenched the mountains and sent ferns rolling down like a lavish green carpet of enchantment.
As I gazed upon the pristine Sognefjord and Naeoryfjord, the glistening waters seemed to capture the beauty of the environment and reflect it like a mirror. In a blink of an eye, I was able to see the majestic mountain crown where snow falls gracefully, its contents eventually flowing into the river Kjelfossgrovi.
As I approached Kjelfossen, Norway’s highest waterfall, I was filled with awe. Towering from the glaciated mountainous region into the depths of the fjord, this majestic sight is the world’s 18th tallest waterfall and cascades from a height of 2,760 feet. It was truly a joy to behold and I could feel the power of the cascading waters.
As I left the awe-inspiring sight, the wondrous Kjelfossen soon became a distant memory as I moved closer to Bakka, a small but advanced village located near the Gudvangen Tunnel’s northern end. I could barely contain my excitement as I watched this fascinating village come into view from the open deck.
