Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Top Places to Visit in Norway in 2016
Telemarkskanalen stretches 105 kilometres from the coast to the mountains in Telemark.
World heritage in Telemark Due to the incorrect estimate of a geologist in the 19th century and a prosperous visit by an engineer around 70 years later, Rjukan in Telemark, Norway, boasts a remarkable history which has had a significant impact on the world. By Line Elise Svanevik | Photos: Bærland Magnus Nyberg, VisitTelemark
As one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage, the town Rjukan is surrounded by stunning nature. For a town with fewer than 3,500 inhabitants, it has played an incredibly important role in the world due to its production of artificial fertilisation. Geologist Jens Esmark discovered Rjukanfossen (Rjukan’s waterfall) in 1810 and measured its height. He then came back from his travels and wrongly declared it the world’s biggest waterfall which, luckily for Rjukan’s small community, attracted painters, artists and aristocrats alike. Norwegian engineer and founder of Norsk Hydro, Sam Eyde, visited Rjukan in 1888. He bought the rights to Rjukanfossen in 1903 and established the company Norsk Hydro alongside scientist Profes86 | Issue 88 | May 2016
sor Birkeland and created electricity using water power. The electrical power developed created several thousand degrees in their tailormade oven, which in turn drew nitrogen out of the air. Nitrogen was then mixed with water, resulting in potassium nitrate. At the end, calcium was added to complete the product that was the artificial fertiliser. The Heavy Water War, recently made into a TV series, of World War II also contributed to making Rjukan famous worldwide and plays a part in today’s World Heritage, as the heavy water was a byproduct of the production at Rjukan. But despite its industrial heritage, Rjukan is mostly known for its incredible nature, including its mountains, waterfalls and river valleys.
“There’s a lot of architecture in Rjukan,” says tourist manager for VisitRjukan, Karin Rø. “Everything has a meaning in the inner realms of the town. The factories are beautiful and the local history has had a great impact on the whole world, as the artificial fertiliser has enabled the world to produce a lot more food to accommodate the growing population. In addition to these three
Vemork power plant in Tinn, just outside of Rjukan, produces the renowned artificial fertiliser.