Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
is in the Vemork power station, which was the world's largest when completed in 1911.
These days it honours the Socialist Workers' Party, which reached its height of Norwegian
activities in the 1950s. You won't want to miss the 30-minute film If Hitler Had the Bomb,
describing the epic events of war-time Telemark (see the boxed text, Click here ), nor the
miniature power station in the main hall. There's also an interesting exhibition about the
worldwide race in the 1930s and '40s to make an atom bomb. It consists of short films,
touch-screen exhibits, photos and dioramas.
Travellers with disabilities and seniors over 65 are permitted to drive up to the entrance;
everyone else must park at the swinging bridge. In summer, a bus (adult/child Nkr30/15;
10am-4pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug) runs up from the car park to the entrance. Otherwise,
it's a 15-minute, 700m climb on foot.
Krossobanen CABLE CAR
(adult one way/return Nkr50/90, child Nkr15/30, bike Nkr30/60; 9am-8pm mid-
Jun-Aug, shorter hr rest of yr) TheKrossobanencablecarwasconstructedin1928(thus
making it the oldest functioning cable car in Europe - something vertigo sufferers may
prefer not to know) by Norsk Hydro to provide its employees with access to the sun. For-
tunately it has since been renovated and now whisks tourists up to Gvepseborg (886m) for
a view over the deep, dark recesses. The best panoramas are from the viewing platform
atop the cable-car station. It also operates as the trailhead for a host of hiking and cycling
trails.
Gaustabanen CABLE RAILWAY
One of Norway's most extraordinary cable railways, Gaustabanen runs 860m deep into the
core of Gausta before a different train climbs an incredible 1040m, alongside 3500 steps
at a 40-degree angle, to 1800m, just below the Gaustahytte, not far from the summit. Built
by NATO in 1958 at a cost of US$1 million to ensure it could access its radio tower in any
weather,therailwayhasbeenclosedtotouristsduetosafetyconcernsforthepastcoupleof
years but is expected to have re-opened to the public by the time this topic hits the shelves.
Takingtherailwayisanincredibleexperience,althoughit'snotfortheclaustrophobic.The
railway's base station is 10km southeast of Rjukan.
Rjukanfossen WATERFALL
Believed to be the highest waterfall in the world in the 18th century (Angel Falls in
Venezuela now has that claim), the 104m-high Rjukanfossen is still a spectacular sight,
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