Name of Waterfall

Mardalsfossen

Description

Mardalsfossen is found in Eikesdalen in the municipality of Nesset. From the junction of Routes 62 and 660 in the town of Nesset, follow Route 660 south for almost 17km to the small town of Eresfjord and turn left onto Route 192, which is signed for Eikesdalen and Mardalsfossen. Follow Route 192 for 6km then bear left onto Route 191, still watching for signs for Eikesdalen and Mardalsfossen. Follow Route 191 along the shore of Eikesdalsvatnet for another 21km and turn right onto a gravel road (for which there is a toll of NOK 30) just after crossing the river, again following signs pointing to Mardalsfossen. Follow the gravel road for another 2.5km to the large parking area about 130 meters beyond the bridge over the Mardøla. Do not park at or along the gravel road which branches left before the bridge where signs point to the trail for the falls. From the parking area, walk back along the road, crossing the river and up the aforementioned gravel road where the signs mark the trail. About 1/2km up the road the trail heads off to the right and begins climbing steadily to reach the base of the falls after about 2km of walking.Mardalsfossen is a waterfall of global significance found in the northern part of western Norway. The falls drop a total of 645 meters (2,116 feet) in two main plunging tiers separated by a short stretch of bedrock cascades. The upper tier of the falls is a true free-falling drop, and is often cited at 297 meters (974 feet) in height as the tallest sheer fall in Europe. In actuality the upper tier falls 262 meters (859 feet). Between the upper and lower tiers, the Mardøla tumbles down a series of bedrock cascades which drop 55 meters (180 feet) over a run of approximately 165 linear meters (540 feet). The river then splits into two channels and drops 328 meters (1,076 feet) over the lower tier of the falls, the two channels sliding down concave chutes and then converging at the point where the stream reverts to a free-fall.
Because of the prominence and global significance of the falls, the precise height of Mardalsfossen had been difficult to pinpoint for quite some time. The falls are often claimed as the tallest in Norway, or featuring the tallest free-falling drop in Norway – both claims are wholly incorrect. The Norwegian statistics bureau SSB cites the falls as dropping 704 meters (2,312 feet), however the figures which have been compiled by SSB often reflect the measurement of head available in waterfalls which are tied in to a hydroelectric system, which Mardalsfossen is. More frequently the falls have been cited to stand 659 meters (2,165 feet) tall, which corresponds more accurately with topographic data. When we surveyed the falls in June 2011, we were not able to accurately measure the entire waterfall, but we were able to accurately achieve an elevation at the bottom of the waterfall. Using the measurements taken in 2011 along with recently available one-meter contour topographic maps, it has been determined that the actual height of the falls is 645 meters (2,116 feet).
Since 1977 the river Mardøla has been harnessed and diverted into the Grytten hydro power plant in Romsdalen for the majority of the year. Part of the licensing agreement however stipulated that the falls would see a minimum release of 88 cubic feet per second from June 20 to August 20 every year. When the falls are “turned off” by the system the river is diverted above the lake at the top of the falls. Rain or snowmelt which would naturally drain into the lake is still allowed to flow over the falls when the majority of the river is otherwise diverted, ensuring the falls actually do flow for more than two months out of the year. Unfortunately this only ensures the falls flow while there is snow on the ground or prolonged periods of heavy rain.

Other Names

['Østre Mardalsfossen', 'Søndre Mardalsfossen']

Magnitude

87.4

Absolute Magnitude

97.81

IWC Rating (International Waterfall Classification)

3.42

Total Height (ft)

2116

Tallest Drop

1076

Number of Drops

3

Average Width

40

Maximum Width

100

Average High Volume (Cubic ft per second)

88 cfs

Average Low Volume (Cubic ft per second)

0 cfs

Pitch

90 degrees

Run (ft)

800

Watershed or Feeder Stream

Mardøla