Sarpefossen

Sarpsfossen (also Sarpefossen ) is a waterfall in Sarpsborg, a city in southeastern Norway.

With an average water flow of 577 cubic meters per second Sarpsfossen is Europe's largest waterfall. In comparison, the Rhine Falls has an average water volume of 250 cubic meters per second at Schaffhausen.

Sarpsfossen for nearly 1000 years, the landmark of the city of Sarpsborg. According to him, the city received its name, and he played for their development, especially as an energy source, a significant role. He also served as a place of execution.

History

The beginnings

In ancient times, here the sea level was 190 meters higher than today. Only with the decline in sea level created about 4000 years ago at the point where there was a terminal moraine, the first rapids. With the increase in the uplands and the height of the waterfall has risen from about 15 meters to about 23 meters today.

Middle Ages

As the Norwegian king Olav Haraldsson (also Saint Olav ) sailed in 1016 with his ships on the river Glomma towards the sea, he could not pass the majestic waterfall. He founded a new capital at this point with the name Borg. This name was later replaced by Sarpsborg. Was used as an energy source early in the 14th century with the construction of a flour mill of the waterfall. The late 16th century arose on both sides of the waterfall sawmills. Immediately at the waterfall is the Good Hafslund Hovedgård, which is one of the few well-preserved Norwegian estates of the 17th and 18th centuries. In the courtyard is a large English garden, where 3000 year old rock paintings and grave mounds from the time of Christ are.

Presence

There is a built in 1854 bridge, which was then referred to as a giant building on the Norwegian Niagara on the Sarpsfossen. As early as 1898, the corporation was founded in Hafslund, which had the generation and transmission of energy for the nascent industry to the destination. With the installation of the pulp and paper industry in the factory Borregaard one of the largest industrial facilities in Norway, which today is part of the Orkla Group was formed. There are also three hydropower plants with a total capacity of 142 megawatts, as the Borregaard power plant, the Hafslund power plant and the Sarp power plant.