Kjeragbolten

Kjeragbolten
A man standing on top of Kjeragbolten
Highest point
Elevation984 m (3,228 ft)
Coordinates59°02′01″N 6°35′36″E / 59.0337269°N 6.5932748°E / 59.0337269; 6.5932748
Geography
Map of the location
Map of the location
Kjeragbolten
Location in Rogaland
LocationRogaland, Norway
Topo map1313 III Lyngsvatnet
Map
Interactive map of Kjeragbolten

Kjeragbolten (English: Kjerag Bolt) is a boulder on the mountain Kjerag in Sandnes municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The rock itself is a 5-cubic-metre (180 cu ft) glacial deposit wedged in a large crevice in the mountain. It is a popular tourist destination and is accessible without any climbing equipment. However, it is suspended above a 984-metre (3,228 ft) deep abyss. It is also a popular site for BASE jumping. The boulder is just southwest of the village of Lysebotn, just south of the Lysefjorden.[1]

Geology

Rogaland lies in a weak tectonic zone, allowing the river to dig into the surrounding sandstone mountain. During the several glaciations known to have occurred in Scandinavia, Norway was completely covered in glaciers. Between the glaciations, the meltwater formed and reformed the valley up to 22 times.[2] After the last glacial period, global warming caused a rise in sea level, flooding the fjords. The boulder was deposited during this last glaciation at around 50,000 B.C.[3] As the Norwegian Glacier melted, it was accompanied by a rebound in rock formations as the ice was removed. In Kjeragbolten's case, the rebound was faster than the rising sea level, which wedged the rock into its current position.

Tourism

Kjeragbolten has long been a famed photo opportunity in the Kjerag trails. It was featured in the 2006 viral video Where the Hell is Matt? where traveler Matt Harding danced atop the precarious boulder. Because of its enormous popularity, long lines usually form with people who want to have a photo from the site. Expected waiting time can be anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour, especially when there are cruise ships in Stavanger. The Boulder is easy to step onto from the side. There have been no recorded deaths from falling off the boulder in Norwegian history.[citation needed]

It is a popular location for BASE jumping,[4] but one source noted that "there are several BASE-jumping accidents every year" there.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Jøssang, Tor Inge (2008-09-12). "2700 vellykkede hopp fra Kjerag". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 2010-03-12.
  2. ^ "Lysefjorden Earthcache - Kjerag and Preikestolen". Geocaching.
  3. ^ Arnold, Amanda. "Afraid of heights? Kjeragbolten will make your knees buckle". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on 2012-12-14. Retrieved 2012-12-30.
  4. ^ "BASE Jumping Off Kjeragbolten In Norway, Over 3,000 Feet In The Air". HuffPost. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  5. ^ Berezin, Henrik (2011). Norway Travel Adventures. Hunter Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 9781588437068. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  6. ^ "KO 2011 Amali Thumali Song Video". YouTube. 10 November 2014.
  7. ^ "DREAM THEATER RETURN WITH 'A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD'". Dream Theater. 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-08-25.

Media related to Kjeragbolten at Wikimedia Commons