Sarpsfossen
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Sarpsfossen (also Sarpefossen ) is a waterfall in Sarpsborg , a city in southeast Norway .
With an average water volume of 577 m³ / s, the Sarpsfossen is the most water-rich waterfall in Europe. In comparison, the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen have an average water volume of 373 cubic meters per second with the same drop height.
Sarpsfossen has been the symbol of the city of Sarpsborg for almost 1,000 years. The city was named after him and he played an important role in its development, especially as a source of energy.
history
The beginnings
In the old days the mountain threshold was 190 meters lower than it is today. It was only with the rise of the mountain threshold about 4,000 years ago that the first rapids emerged at the point where there was a terminal moraine. Since then, the height of the waterfall has risen to around 23 meters.
middle Ages
When the Norwegian King Olav Haraldsson (also Olav the Saint) sailed towards the sea with his ships on the Glomma River in 1016 , he could not pass the mighty waterfall. At this point he founded a new capital called Borg. This name was later replaced by Sarpsborg . The waterfall was used as a source of energy as early as the 14th century when a flour mill was built. At the end of the 16th century sawmills were built on both sides of the waterfall. Immediately by the waterfall is Hafslund Hovedgård , one of the few well-preserved Norwegian manors from the 17th and 18th centuries. The courtyard includes a large English garden with 3000 year old rock carvings and burial mounds from the time of Christ.
present
Above the Sarpsfossen there is a bridge built in 1854, which at the time was called a huge structure over the Norwegian Niagara . The Hafslund corporation was founded as early as 1898, with the aim of generating and transmitting energy for the emerging industry. With the installation of the paper and cellulose industry in the Borregaard plant , one of the largest industrial plants in Norway was created , which is now part of the Orkla Group. There are also three hydropower plants with a total capacity of 142 megawatts, such as the Borregaard power plant , the Hafslund power plant and the Sarp power plant .
literature
- Visit Sarpsborg (Ed.): SarpsborgGuide 2010 , p. 53 (Norwegian, English, German, requires Flash Player)
Web links
Coordinates: 59 ° 16 ′ 33 ″ N , 11 ° 7 ′ 50 ″ E