Sjodalen
Encyclopedia
Sjodalen is a wide, gently sloping valley
in Southern Norway, draining the eastern parts of Jotunheimen
. The river Sjoa
gives its name to the valley. Sjodalen is generally accepted to start at the outlet from the deep mountain-lake Gjende
. The valley's lower end-point is, however less defined as the valley is named Heidal
east of Randsverk. Perhaps the most easy definition is to state that the valley draining Sjoa
is named Sjodalen in Vågå
and Heidal in Sel
municipalities.
The perhaps best-known tourist site in Sjodalen itself is Ridderspranget. This canyon's name means Knight's Leap and originated with the legend of Sigvat Kvie from Valdres
, one of the King Haakon Magnusson's knights (riddar). Sigvat jumped across the river Sjoa at this narrow point in the canyon, with a beautiful girl from Vågå
. He had freed her from Ivar Gjesling
successfully taking his love to Valdres
.
, the highest pine-forest of Norway
. Above the pine-forest and 150 m wide birch-zone before the alpine bush-vegetations leads into the higher mountains. The western side of Sjodalen is defined by the Jotun nappe
, the escarpment that define the Jotunheimen National Park and these mountains reach above 2000 m above sea level.
The river Sjoa feeds two lakes on its progress down the valley: Øvre Sjodalsvatnet
and Nedre Sjodalsvatnet. The Sjoa river is a popular place for fishing
, rafting
, and kayaking
. Sjoa river is protected, as is the landscape surrounding the river. Restrictions are therefore set on camping near the river. Several traditional places to spend the night exists, including Randsverk camping, Hindsæter, Bessheim
, Maurvangen
and Gjendesheim
.
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
in Southern Norway, draining the eastern parts of Jotunheimen
Jotunheimen
Jotunheimen is a mountainous area of roughly 3,500 km² in Southern Norway and is part of the long range known as the Scandinavian Mountains. The 29 highest mountains in Norway are all in Jotunheimen, including the very highest - Galdhøpiggen...
. The river Sjoa
Sjoa
The Sjoa river provides the outlet from lake Gjende at Gjendesheim in the Jotunheimen mountains of Norway's Jotunheim National Park. It flows eastward into the Gudbrandsdalslågen river via the Heidal traditional district in the Gudbrandsdal....
gives its name to the valley. Sjodalen is generally accepted to start at the outlet from the deep mountain-lake Gjende
Gjende
Gjende is a lake in the Jotunheimen mountains in Norway's Jotunheimen National Park. The proglacial lake shows typical characteristics of glacial formation, being long and narrow—in length 18 km and in breadth 1.5 km at the broadest point with steep walls...
. The valley's lower end-point is, however less defined as the valley is named Heidal
Heidal
Heidal is a valley and parish within Gudbrandsdalen valley, in the county of Oppland, Norway.-History:Heidal parish was separated from Vågå as a separate municipality of its own on January 1, 1908. It was merged with the municipality of Sel on January 1, 1965.Heidal is a side valley of Gudbrandsdalen...
east of Randsverk. Perhaps the most easy definition is to state that the valley draining Sjoa
Sjoa
The Sjoa river provides the outlet from lake Gjende at Gjendesheim in the Jotunheimen mountains of Norway's Jotunheim National Park. It flows eastward into the Gudbrandsdalslågen river via the Heidal traditional district in the Gudbrandsdal....
is named Sjodalen in Vågå
Vågå
Vågå is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vågåmo....
and Heidal in Sel
Sel
Sel is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Otta....
municipalities.
History
The valley was traditionally used for summer farming. What is particular for the valley is the size and state of these summer farms (sæter in Norwegian). This is partly caused by the very rare tradition of winter-farming in this region. Rather than bringing the summer harvest down into the village and main farm, the farmers took the animals back up into the mountains during winter. This could be done due to the limited snow-fall in this continental climate regime.The perhaps best-known tourist site in Sjodalen itself is Ridderspranget. This canyon's name means Knight's Leap and originated with the legend of Sigvat Kvie from Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
, one of the King Haakon Magnusson's knights (riddar). Sigvat jumped across the river Sjoa at this narrow point in the canyon, with a beautiful girl from Vågå
Vågå
Vågå is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vågåmo....
. He had freed her from Ivar Gjesling
Gjesling
Gjesling was an old family at Vågå in Oppland, Norway.In 1130 Ivar Gjesling was the earliest-known owner of the farm Sandbu in Vågå. He served as King Magnus IV's lendmann for the Opplands. Ivar Gjesling, allied himself with the Birchlegs — who chose Sverre as their king at Øreting in 1177...
successfully taking his love to Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
.
Geography
In the valley-floor and low valley sides the landscape is dominated by pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, the highest pine-forest of 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...
. Above the pine-forest and 150 m wide birch-zone before the alpine bush-vegetations leads into the higher mountains. The western side of Sjodalen is defined by the Jotun nappe
Nappe
In geology, a nappe is a large sheetlike body of rock that has been moved more than or 5 km from its original position. Nappes form during continental plate collisions, when folds are sheared so much that they fold back over on themselves and break apart. The resulting structure is a...
, the escarpment that define the Jotunheimen National Park and these mountains reach above 2000 m above sea level.
The river Sjoa feeds two lakes on its progress down the valley: Øvre Sjodalsvatnet
Øvre Sjodalsvatnet
Øvre Sjodalsvatnet is a lake that is part of the river Sjoa in the municipality of Vågå in Oppland county, Norway.Near the top of the lake is Maurvangen campground and Bessheim mountain lodge....
and Nedre Sjodalsvatnet. The Sjoa river is a popular place for 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....
, rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
, and kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
. Sjoa river is protected, as is the landscape surrounding the river. Restrictions are therefore set on camping near the river. Several traditional places to spend the night exists, including Randsverk camping, Hindsæter, Bessheim
Bessheim
Bessheim is a mountain lodge in Sjodalen and is situated 964 metres above sea level next to Øvre Sjodalsvatnet on the muntain passage between Valdres and Gudbrandsdalen . Bessheim consists of 30 buildings and has 150 beds and its own power generator...
, Maurvangen
Maurvangen
Maurvangen is a campground by Øvre Sjodalsvatnet and a short distance from Gjendesheim. It is located about 1,000 meters above sea level and lies next to the river Sjoa which is a popular fishing area....
and Gjendesheim
Gjendesheim
Gjendesheim Turisthytte has been a staffed lodge with Norwegian Mountain Touring Association Oslo og Omegn as proprietor since 1878, and is located in the heart of the Norwegian mountains. The lodge can accommodate 170 guests in bedrooms with 1, 2 and 4 beds and four dormitories...
.