Dei Sju Systrene

Dei Sju Systrene, more commonly known in english as The Seven Sisters or Seven Sisters Waterfall, is potentially the most prominent waterfall which descends into the famous Geirangerfjorden in Stranda. The falls drop over a nearly sheer section of cliffs for approximately 390 meters (1,280 feet), splitting into as many as seven (sometimes more) distinct streams as its name suggests, which can cover a breadth of the cliff up to as much as 300 meters (985 feet) in width during the peak of the spring melt season. While the falls are collectively recognized as a singular entity, it's actually made up of two entirely separate streams which drop parallel to one another, one draining out of Ytstedalen and the other from Sanddalen. Neither stream originates in any permanent snow or ice features, so once the seasonal snow has melted off, the volume of the falls can be reduced quite a bit without sustained precipitation (which occurs frequently in this part of Norway) to replenish its flow. The best views of this waterfall are afforded from the passenger sightseeing ferry that runs between Geiranger and Helleyslt, but the falls can also be distantly seen from the Ørnesvingen viewpoint along Rv63 as it climbs out of Geiranger via dozens of switchbacks. We attempted to photograph the falls from this viewpoint in June 2011 but were foiled by bad weather and low clouds over the fjord.Officially the falls are recognized as Dei Sju Systrene, but the variations Sju Søstre and Sju Systre are also common. Anglophones will generally refer to it simply as Seven Sisters Waterfall. Historically the falls were also known as Knivsflåfossen after the adjacent farm Knivsflå located atop the cliffs just northeast of the waterfall.