Have you ever heard of Jutulhogget?
This is not the most famous tourist destination in Norway. But maybe it will?
For now, the deep canyon has been included in the list of exclusive worlds.
As one of the first 100 places in the world, Jutulhogget is included in the list of geological landmarks that are very important for understanding the history of the earth.
IN THE WORLD’S EXCLUSIVE LIST: To be selected as a landmark that can represent the world’s geological heritage by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), it must, among other things, be scientifically recognized internationally. Jutulhogget meets the requirements, reports NGU.
Photo: Bjørn Opsahl / NRK
2.4 kilometers long
– It’s great to include it on the list – that Norway is represented, says researcher Fredrik Høgaas at the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU).
He, along with fellow researcher Tom Heldal, worked on the nomination and scientific justification for Jutulhogget’s inclusion on the world’s list of geologists.
– This is very fun. On the Norwegian side, we propose to include the Norwegian geological national monument Leka on the coast of Trøndelag and Jutulhogget in our joint list of geological heritage, said NGU researcher Tom Heldal.
More than 200 experts from nearly 40 countries and ten international organizations proposed relevant geosites.
181 sites from 56 countries were evaluated by 33 international experts. The first 100 are now selected.
JUTULHOGGET: Here Kari Toft from NRK visited Jutulhogget in 2011.
Photo: Jørn Nordli / NRK
Jutulhogget is a nature reserve and is managed by State Administrators in the Country. The gorge is 2.4 kilometers long and 140 meters deep, and is one of the longest canyons in Northern Europe.
Norwegian geological survey reports that Jutulhogget is in good company on the exclusive list.
Among other things, we unearthed some of the finest dinosaur fossil remains from Canada and the first evidence of early human ancestry from Tanzania.
The sea rock at the top of Mount Everest is also on the list.
GRAND CANYON: Iconic places like the Grand Canyon in the US, the Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina, the Santorini caldera in Greece, Sugarloaf Mountain in Brazil, and the Uluru sandstone formation in Australia are also on the list.
Photo: Wikipedia Commons/ Caaz
Hopefully the award will attract tourists
The Jutulhogget Formation appeared just after the last ice age, roughly 10,400 years ago.
– There was a large amount of water flowing from Østerdalen and towards Tylldalen, which worked its way into the rock and created the large geological monument that stands there today, said Høgaas.
He hopes the award can be used to attract more tourists to Jutulhogget.
– We also hope that a little more will be arranged. There are more spectacular viewpoints if you walk along the falls, he says.
IN THE LIST: Mount Uluru in Australia – also known as Ayers Rock or simply The Rock, is listed along with Jutulhogget in North Østerdalen.
Photo: Flickr/ Peter Nijenhuis
Mayor Alvdal Mona Murud is proud. He supports Høgaas’ proposal to provide more facilities for tourists to Jutulhogget.
– Very. Jutulhogget is a fantastic attraction that should be seen by as many people as possible. Then we got the task together with the municipal government of Rendalen to make sure that biodiversity is not destroyed, he said.
STOLT: – I think it’s very interesting – and very appropriate. Jutulhogget is a cool and educational place to visit, says Mayor Linda Døsen in Rendalen.
Photo: Stein S Eide/NRK
The world’s “100 first” geological attractions will be collected in a memorial book, which will be presented during the IUGS celebrations in Zumaia in northern Spain from October 25 to 28.
The background to the award is the 60th anniversary of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS).
