Name of Waterfall

Rjoandefossen

Description

Exit the E16 at Flåm and head straight across the river, following signs pointing towards Myrdalen. The falls will be seen across the river five kilometers from the E16. There is very little room to park along this stretch, and the road leading up Flåmsdalen is one lane and frequently occupied by bicyclists so use caution if you choose to drive to this waterfall.The famous Flåm Railway allows riders several prominent vistas of major waterfalls along its route. After Kjosfossen, where the train actually stops to allow tourists to observe the falls for a prolonged period, Rjoandefossen is the most significant waterfall along the line. The falls drop a total of 258 meters (845 feet) split between two distinct drops which are separated by a series of steep cascades over large boulders. The upper and largest step is a booming plunging fall which drops 146 meters (480 feet). The second distinct fall is a cascading horsetail type drop which splits into as many as six parallel channels and falls another 40 meters (130 feet). The remaining 72 meters of the falls height is made up in the steep cascades between the two drops.
While the drainage basin feeding into Rjoandefossen is large enough to sustain the falls all year long, the valleys upstream of the falls are almost entirely composed of bedrock and feature very little ground water retention. Additionally, because there are only three lakes of any significance which drain into the stream, the volume of water present in the waterfall will vary significantly, from a powerful cataract in the spring and early summer months to a wispy plume of mist by the autumn. As a result, the best time to visit the falls is between May and August.

Other Names

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Magnitude

65.34

IWC Rating (International Waterfall Classification)

3.27

Total Height (ft)

845

Tallest Drop

480

Number of Drops

3

Average Width

50

Maximum Width

100

Average High Volume (Cubic ft per second)

100 cfs (8 months)

Average Low Volume (Cubic ft per second)

25 cfs (4 months)

Pitch

80 degrees

Run (ft)

670

Watershed or Feeder Stream

Rjoande