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Mardalsfossen

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Mardalsfossen is a massive waterfall located in Norway. It sits within the Molde Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county. The falls are part of the Mardøla river. This river flows from a hanging valley into a lake called Eikesdalsvatnet. The site is located northwest of the village of Eikesdalen. Some people describe it as one of the tallest waterfalls in Europe. It is a famous landmark in the Norwegian landscape.

The waterfall follows a tiered structure. A tiered waterfall falls in several distinct steps rather than one single drop. Mardalsfossen consists of two large drops. It also features several smaller drops further down the river. The width of the falls is described as average. However, the width can reach much larger sizes. The highest vertical drop is one of the tallest in Norway.

There are different measurements for the height of the falls. These differences often come from how the height is calculated. The SSB provides specific measurements for the waterfall. The World Waterfall Database (WWD) also provides measurements. The SSB typically includes the head measurement for waterfalls in hydroelectric systems. This can result in a larger height estimate. For the upper vertical drop, the SSB reports a height of 412 meters. The WWD surveyed that same drop at 438 meters.

Human activity has changed how the water flows over the falls. The water is used for hydroelectric use. This means the water is tapped to create electricity. Because of this, the water does not always flow over the cliff. During the summer tourist season, the water flows over the falls. This season runs from June 20 to August 20. At other times, the water is channeled through a hydroelectric scheme. Currently, the summer flow is limited to less than 110 cubic meters per second. This is much lower than the highest recorded flow of 1,100 cubic meters per second.

The history of the falls includes significant social protests. In 1970, a man named Arne Næss led a protest. He was the Norwegian founder of the Deep Ecology movement. He and 300 other people tied themselves together. They did this to protest the building of a dam. They were concerned about the removal of the waterfall. This event shows how people have fought to protect natural sites.

Art has also been connected to the waterfall. Between June 2014 and August 2015, an artist named Antony Gormley held an exhibition. His work was titled Another Time. The piece was displayed within the mist created by the waterfall. This event served as the official start of the Mardalsfossen Art Project. This connection shows how the natural environment can inspire human creativity.

The name of the waterfall provides clues about its history. It comes from the name of the Mardalen valley. The name is a combination of two parts. The word foss is the finite form of a word meaning waterfall. The valley name comes from the old river name, Mara. Mara is the old name for the Mardøla river. The name Mara likely comes from a verb meaning to rub, dig, grave, or die. The word dal means valley. Finally, the waterfall was once depicted on the coat of arms for the old Nesset Municipality.

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