Rjukanfossen

Rjukanfossen (Rjukan Falls) is a waterfall in the western part of the Vestfjorddalen valley, in Tinn municipality, Telemark, Norway. It drops on the river Måna roughly five kilometres west of the town of Rjukan. The usual quoted height is 104 metres, though other sources give different figures because the result depends on where the drop of the river is measured. More than a scenic stop, it is the place where the industrial story of the whole area began.

Why is Rjukanfossen usually so quiet today?

In the early twentieth century, entrepreneur Sam Eyde and the company Norsk Hydro harnessed the river to generate electricity for fertiliser production. Most of the water was diverted to the Vemork power station, finished in the autumn of 1911 and then among the largest in the world. As a result, the falls themselves run strongly only now and then, and in summer they can be close to dry. Keep that in mind when planning a visit: you will not see a roaring cascade every day.

What else is connected to this place?

When the flow was full, the falls were a tourist draw and one of the first waterfalls lit by floodlights powered by electricity from its own water. Nearby Vemork also earned a place in Second World War history. The Germans ran heavy water production there, and in 1943 British and Norwegian saboteurs, dropped into the mountains, destroyed the installation with explosives. Today the former power station houses the Norwegian Industrial Workers Museum, which covers hydropower development and the industrial heritage of Rjukan. The industrial landscape of Rjukan and Notodden has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015.

How do you get there and where is the best view?

The best view comes from driving Route Rv37 west out of town. Park just before the tunnel, about 9.5 km from the centre of Rjukan, and walk roughly 200 metres to a viewpoint. For a longer outing, a loop route from Våer links the first Norsk Hydro power plant with the falls: about 3.2 km with around 120 m of climbing, rated moderate.

When should you go?

In summer the falls can carry very little water, especially when everything is going to the power station. In winter the frozen drop attracts ice climbers and the surroundings turn into classic Norwegian mountain scenery. If a dramatic view matters to you, check current conditions before you set out.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Rjukanfossen? In the Vestfjorddalen valley, Tinn municipality, Telemark, about 5 km west of Rjukan.

How tall is the waterfall? Usually given as 104 metres, although other sources estimate it differently depending on how it is measured.

Does the waterfall always flow? No. Most of the water goes to the Vemork power station, so the flow is often small, particularly in summer.

Is there a trail? Yes. A short walk from Rv37 leads to the viewpoint, and a longer loop starting in Våer is about 3.2 km.

What is worth seeing nearby? The former Vemork power station with its museum and other UNESCO-listed industrial sites around Rjukan.