Lærdal

Salmon

Salmon jumping in the Sjurhaugfossen waterfall in the Lærdal river is a popular sight in the summer months. Sjurhaugfossen is 20 km upstream the river mouth at Lærdaløyri, and was earlier the final barrier for salmon migration. Three fish ladders build in connection with the hydropower development in the river has opened (at least in theory) an additional 20 km of salmon river. The Lærdal river has been a favourite angling river since the English "salmon lords" arrived here around 1850. What has made it popular is of course the sporting salmon (up to 25 kg) and seatrout (up to 10 kg), the crystal clear waters and the good fly fishing opportunities from the bank.

Photo: NRS

Gyrodactylus Salaris attack

In the autumn of 1996 a heavy infection by the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus Salaris was discovered in the river. This is a killer that will decimate the salmon population to near or below sustainable level in a few years. The commonly used treatment is to remove the host, i.e. the salmon itself, and this is done by injecting the plant poison rotenon in the river. This will also kill the other fish species in the river, and is thus a very dramatic cure. The effect of the poison are shortlasting, it degrades quickly. Luckily a large part of the total salmon and sea trout stock is in the sea, and those fish are not infected by the parasite - it does not survive in seawater. The river will thus be restocked, both naturally and by breeding, but fishing will not be allowed for several years, while the population recover. A first rotenon treatment was made in April of 1997, the second and last was carried out in August.

In the autumn of 1997 salmon and sea trout was spawning in the river, and the next year salmon and sea trout was back. However, new infections by the parasites have been found, and new rotenon treatments are not viable. New methods for treating the infection are presently evaluated.

The Borgund Stave Church

The Borgund stave church is the best preserved of the 29 Norwegian stave churches - it stands more or less as it was when built in 1150. The Lærdal coat-of-arms (top) depicts the wooden dragonheads ornamenting the Spire. The name "stave" church comes from the wooden pillars that form the main supporting structure. The church is built without any metal; no nails nor bolts.

Photo: NRS

The Old Roads

The Sognefjord and Lærdal have always been an important route between East and West Norway, and many generations of roads witness this. King Olav Haraldsson "the Holy" travelled here in 1023, and left wealth of local legends, like the petrified troll "Jutlamannen" who dared to challenge the mighty king, and as a punishment stands 30 m high gazing blindly after the king. Another landmark is the pass "Olavsklemma" which shows marks where he pressed his horse through - partly destroyed by the German fortifications here during WWII. King Sverre Sigurdsson rode through the valley with his "birkebeiner" in 1177 - not to much blessing for the Lærdal people. But one of roads was constructed on his order - "Sverrestigen".

The old roads are easily accessible, and make perfect hiking and jogging trails. The best preserved are besides "Sverrestigen": "Galdane" in the narrowest part of the valley and "Kongevegen - the Royal Road" over Fillefjell, upgraded in 1793, "Vindhella" and "Sæltaåsen", from 1843.

The home pages of Lærdal Turlag (Lærdal Hiking Association) contains more information in the old roads and other hiking possiblities in Lærdal - in Norwegian only.