Day 9 Geiranger Part 2

It was about 20 minutes walk uphill to the Norsk Fjordsenter (Norwegian Fjord Center). This building is shaped to represent Geirangerfjord, 'geir', an old word for arrow head and 'anger' for fjord. Geiranger is at the head of Geirangerfjorden which is an arrow-shaped fjord.
The museum gave me a beautifully written booklet in three languages on the living history and nature of this area.
Living on these steep mountain slopes was very challenging with hardships. The fjord area is so beautiful, though. There exhibits of the quay, steamer, post office, a church shed used as a changing place for people traveling a long distance from home to church, old homes, tools etc. I was particularly interested in the formation of Norway as we know it today over the multitude of Ice Ages which cut deep mountains and formed the fjords. Our morning guide had told us of a widening crack on a mountaintop that was being carefully measured and watched as it widens. He said there would be a tsunami when the rock cap fell. I learned this was not without precedence. There had been a landslide with resultant tsunami reaching 64m (210 ft) that killed 40 people in 1934. A good reason to be vigilant. Another danger is avalanches.
We learned about the thatch roofs. It's an older technology and not commonly used anymore. They waterproofed the roof with birch bark and sod. When the grass got too high they would put goats on the roof to 'mow' it.
Norway uses hydroelectric power, as you might imagine, with all those waterfalls and snow melt. We saw a lot of hybrid and electric cars. Lots of Teslas. Even these cute two-seater eMobility cars for tourists to rent.
When I left the Fjord Center I walked down the Waterfall Trail to the harbor. Another long, powerful set of rapids and falls. I'm including a photo from that walkway. In the background (right) there is a waterfall coming down the mountain. To the best of my knowledge that waterfall and the foreground waterfall is not the same stream. Nor are either of them the hidden waterfall Alicia and I climbed to in the morning.
As we sailed out of port we looked for the Seven Sisters Waterfalls. You can probably find the story online. There are legends and stories and so many waterfalls!
One of the reasons we enjoyed this place so much was that we didn't spend all day in a bus and actually got some strenuous exercise. We then had time to explore the village and time off the ship.
Going into the grocery store I saw a familiar site, an ad for Old El Paso products. It's interesting to see American made items in other places! The troll was outside another shop. Doesn't he remind you of the character Billy Crystal portrayed in the Princess Bride?
The video of the waterfall is from the Waterfall Walkway leading down from the Fjord Center to the harbor.Läs mer