Voringsfossen

Vøringsfossen is one of Norway's best-known waterfalls, where the river Bjoreio drops about 182 metres, with a free fall of roughly 145 metres, into the Måbødalen gorge near Eidfjord in Vestland, Norway. The main viewing area is at Fossli, at the top of the gorge beside the Fossli Hotel, where a series of platforms and stone-edged paths give views down into the canyon and across to the falls. A newer set of walkways, stairs and glass-fronted lookouts built in recent years extends the vantage points closer to the cliff edge and allows views of the water thundering into the spray-filled gorge below. The surrounding landscape is the edge of the Hardangervidda plateau, a bare, high mountain region, and the road to the falls, Rv7, climbs steeply from Eidfjord through tunnels and switchbacks. A visit to the platforms typically takes about an hour, and a longer hike is possible on paths along the gorge rim or down the old road in the Måbødalen valley. The falls are at their most powerful during late spring snowmelt in May and June, when the water volume is highest, while later in summer the flow is thinner but the weather is more settled. Mist and rain can obscure the view, so a clear day is best. Photographers favour the new platform for wide shots and the older viewpoints at Fossli for the full height of the drop. Crowds peak in July and August, when coach tours stop here, and the midday period is the busiest; early morning and evening are quieter. Entry to the viewing platforms is free, and parking at the site is available. The Hardangervidda Nature Centre in Eidfjord makes a useful companion stop, and a summer bus runs from Eidfjord.