Me-Åkernes
Encyclopedia
Me-Åkernes or Midtre Åkernes (literally "field in the middle of the headland") is a deserted fjord
farm along the Sunnylvsfjord (inner branch fjord of the Storfjord (fjord)
) in the municipality of Stranda
in Møre og Romsdal
county, Norway
. It is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) northeast of Hellesylt
. The farm is located in the West Norwegian Fjords Norwegian World Heritage Sites and has been preserved both for its unique geologic siting and as a representative of typical Norwegian farm culture
in the fjord regions. This geologically unique farm has also been identified as the model for the farm place appearing in Henrik Ibsen
’s play Brand
based on the similarity in the description and his visit there on 16 July 1862:
-threatened hillside. Thus the five farm buildings are built against the rock face of a protected overhanging cliff face in the hillside, and the roofs are level with the slope, such that avalanches pass over the buildings without harming them. The only access is from the Storfjorden waters below; access from the ridge above is extremely difficult.
There is no natural harbour on the shore, just a small, man-made landing place and some remaining stone walls that are remnants of an earlier boat shed. The boats were dragged onto dry land for safekeeping from the seas from the fjord.
district. The farms had to base their economy on agriculture
, fishing
, and hunting.
Me-Åkernes was originally a single farm, but in 1881 its fields were divided in two halves between two related couples. The house and farm buildings were shared in common, but each couple maintained their own livestock. There could be as many as 12-14 people living simultaneously at the farm. Each family would support livestock of four cattle and 40 sheep by supplementing fodder
in the winter season by use of seaweed
. The seaweed was treated in warm water, minced, and barley flour added. Although recently they grew potato
es and barley
, a field area named "Rugåkeren" (the Rye Field) indicates that rye
was grown there in earlier times. To thresh the grain they used a manual threshing machine.
Today, the farm is private property, but the preservation society "Storfjordens venner" (The Friends of The Great Fjord) have maintained the buildings. The last residents farming the land were Anders and Solveig Hanson Ringdal. They moved away from the farm on December 6th, 1958.
) of about 30 metres (98.4 ft) in height, which will sweep the fjord and devastate the areas adjacent to Sunnylvsfjord and Storfjord.
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
farm along the Sunnylvsfjord (inner branch fjord of the Storfjord (fjord)
Storfjord (fjord)
The Storfjord is a fjord in the Sunnmøre region, stretching from Hareid in the west to Tafjord and Geiranger east in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The Storfjord system includes the famous Geirangerfjord and Tafjorden, at small village of Stranda it branches off into...
) in the municipality of Stranda
Stranda
Stranda is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Stranda....
in Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It is located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) northeast of Hellesylt
Hellesylt
Hellesylt is a small village in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village lies at the head of the Sunnylvsfjord, which is a branch of the Storfjord, and which the more famous Geirangerfjord in turn branches off nearby...
. The farm is located in the West Norwegian Fjords Norwegian World Heritage Sites and has been preserved both for its unique geologic siting and as a representative of typical Norwegian farm culture
Norwegian farm culture
The Norwegian farm culture was a rural movement unique in values and practices which assumed a form in Viking Age Norway, and continued with little change into the age of firearms - and in many respects even to the early 20th century...
in the fjord regions. This geologically unique farm has also been identified as the model for the farm place appearing in Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
’s play Brand
Brand (play)
Brand is a play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It is a verse tragedy, written in 1865 and first performed in Stockholm on 24 March 1867. Brand was an intellectual play that provoked much original thought....
based on the similarity in the description and his visit there on 16 July 1862:
-
-
- And here it stands without a fear
- Because the glacier passes here
- Just when the time of leave sprouts comes
- Above the heads like boulder storms
- The parsonage protected stands, like in a cascade cave.
-
Location and access
The farm is situated on a ledge about 100 metres (328.1 ft) above sea level located on a steep, avalancheAvalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
-threatened hillside. Thus the five farm buildings are built against the rock face of a protected overhanging cliff face in the hillside, and the roofs are level with the slope, such that avalanches pass over the buildings without harming them. The only access is from the Storfjorden waters below; access from the ridge above is extremely difficult.
There is no natural harbour on the shore, just a small, man-made landing place and some remaining stone walls that are remnants of an earlier boat shed. The boats were dragged onto dry land for safekeeping from the seas from the fjord.
Buildings and operation
The main house is located where it is least exposed to avalanches. The hay barn and cowshed are added onto opposite ends of the house, for a total length of 35 metres (114.8 ft). The Me-Åkernes farm is, except for the unusual adaptation to the terrain and accommodation for danger from avalanches, a typical multi-activity farm representative of the fjord and mountain farms of the SunnmøreSunnmøre
Sunnmøre is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Its main city is Ålesund. The region comprises the municipalities of Giske, Hareid, Herøy, Norddal, Sande, Skodje, Haram, Stordal, Stranda, Sula, Sykkylven, Ulstein, Vanylven, Volda, Ørskog,...
district. The farms had to base their economy on agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and hunting.
Me-Åkernes was originally a single farm, but in 1881 its fields were divided in two halves between two related couples. The house and farm buildings were shared in common, but each couple maintained their own livestock. There could be as many as 12-14 people living simultaneously at the farm. Each family would support livestock of four cattle and 40 sheep by supplementing fodder
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
in the winter season by use of seaweed
Seaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
. The seaweed was treated in warm water, minced, and barley flour added. Although recently they grew potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
es and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, a field area named "Rugåkeren" (the Rye Field) indicates that rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
was grown there in earlier times. To thresh the grain they used a manual threshing machine.
Today, the farm is private property, but the preservation society "Storfjordens venner" (The Friends of The Great Fjord) have maintained the buildings. The last residents farming the land were Anders and Solveig Hanson Ringdal. They moved away from the farm on December 6th, 1958.
Risk of landslide and extinction
Today the farm is, due to its location by the Åkernesrenna (the Åkernes crevice), at considerable risk. The Åkernesrenna has in the recent years widened at an accelerating rate, and analyses show the threat of a coming landslide, estimated at 50000000 cubic metres (65,397,531 cu yd) (Latest estimates pile up to 100000000 cubic metres (130,795,061.9 cu yd)). The landslide will go directly into the fjord, causing a flood wave (landslide induced tsunamiTsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
) of about 30 metres (98.4 ft) in height, which will sweep the fjord and devastate the areas adjacent to Sunnylvsfjord and Storfjord.