Ædnafossen

There are two ways to view Ædnafossen, either up close or from across the Sørfjord. To view the falls up close, take Route 550 north from central Odda for 8.2km to the bridge at the base of the falls. The problem is there is nowhere to park, so one must view the falls from the car (or ensure there is no traffic and take pictures very quickly). To view the falls from across the fjord, follow Route 13 north from the bridge over the Opo River in Odda for about 8.4km. After exiting the fourth tunnel immediately turn left onto the old Route 13 road, which is now a walking and bike path. Park and walk as far down the old road as desired for views of the falls across the fjord.Ædnafossen is a massive veiling waterfall fueled by meltwater from the Folgefonna Icefield. The falls drop a total of 320 meters (1,050 feet) in a massive veiling curtain of water. The initial drop of about 175 meters in height is the most striking, stretching out to as much as 165 meters (540 feet) in width, creating one of the most visually massive waterfalls in Norway. The final 125 meters of the falls sees the stream narrow considerably and tumble down less steep cascades as it funnels under a bridge running along the west shore of Sørfjorden which allows for a rather intimate but severely foreshortened perspective of the raging cataract. The stream which produces the waterfall originates in a glacier extending off of the middle lobe of the Folgefonna Icefield, and maintains a consistent flow throughout the year. At least two other significant waterfalls occur along this stream as well, however neither are nearly as prominent or visible as Ædnafossen.The Norwegian character “Æ” is pronounced exactly as it appears, as “ae”. Perhaps due to the influence of English or at least English spelling, the falls were more commonly spelled Ednafossen in years passed because of this pronunciation. The name Sagafossen has also been applied to the falls but whether it remains relevant is not known.