How was Preikestolen Formed?

According to geologists, Preikestolen was most likely formed around 10,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age. As the glaciers melted away, and the Lysefjord was formed, the now-famous cliffside was exposed.

Before the start of the Ice Ages, the area around the Lysefjord was a shallow mountain valley that had been created as rivers and creeks eroded the landscape. Through the many Ice Ages, which spanned a period of 1-2 million years, moving glaciers carved into the landscape, reforming it along the way. Toward the end of the last Ice Age (10,000 years ago), as the glaciers retreated, debris was pushed downward and outward along the valley while the sea-level simultaneously began to rise. Over time, the debris accumulated into massive piles and walls, known as moraines. The seawater eventually broke over/through the valley’s end moraine, causing it to flood, at which point the fjord was formed. Though the floor of the Lysefjord is 457 meters (1,500 feet) below sea-level at its deepest point, the end moraine at the mouth of the fjord resulted in a depth of just 13 meters (43 feet).

Without the glaciers, which had served as a stabilizing force, the Lysefjord’s surrounding mountains became unstable. Successive cold winters caused frost damage to the granite bedrock, which eventually cracked. Once loose, whole sections of the mountainsides broke away, causing vast quantities of rock to tumble into the fjord below. The Preikestolen cliffside was formed when three massive cracks gave way, leaving it in its current form.

Tourist Traffic to Preikestolen

Once word got out about Hyvlatånnå, people from all over the region wanted to experience standing atop the massive plateau. The first tourists who visited what is now Preikestolen did so in the early 1900s. At the time, prior to roads being built to the area, it was not easily accessible, and therefore a long and difficult hike for those who wanted to visit. In the early 1920s, a marked trail to Preikestolen was established and two farms (Vatne and Torsnes) began offering overnight accommodation to visitors. Around that time, there were about 100 guests annually between the two farms. It wasn’t until 1961, four decades later, that a road was finally constructed between Jørpeland and Vatne farm. This development made it possible for people to visit Preikestolen in just one day, and the number of tourists to Preikestolen steadily increased with each passing year. By the 1990s, there were 50,000 visitors annually.

In 2004, the numbers had jumped to 75,000. After 2010, there has been an exponential increase in media attention, digital word-of-mouth, and visitors sharing their experiences on social media. This has resulted in Preikestolen becoming a year-round tourist attraction as well as the most visited natural attraction in Norway. In 2019, more than 300,000 people are expected to make their way to the iconic landmark. Preikestolen has not only become the number one hiking destination in Norway – it truly is an international icon, attracting visitors from all over the world. Preikestolen is frequently the subject of countless PR and media activities. Most recently, it was the filming site for the final action scenes in Mission: Impossible – Fallout (MI6).

When Will Preikestolen Fall Down?

While visiting Preikestolen, most people notice the wide, long crack that crosses the plateau’s surface. Some may wonder if the crack means that Preikestolen is unstable and worry that it may detach from the mountainside and fall into the fjord below. Since the 1990s, Geologists have taken regular measurements of the crack to check for signs that the mountain is shifting. Preikestolen consists of two very solid rock types, granite and gneiss, and measurements of the crack have shown that it doesn’t traverse deep into the plateau. In addition, the crack has not increased in width. A recent report titled ‘Stability Analysis of Preikestolen’ by Katrine Mo (2018, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)), concluded that, for the foreseeable future, Preikestolen is not going to fall down. We can therefore assure visitors that it’s safe to walk atop Preikestolen – bearing in mind that everybody should take safety precautions when approaching the edge of the plateau.

That being said – nothing lasts forever. In the distant future, mighty Preikestolen will eventually surrender to erosion and the forces of gravity. Legend says that Preikestolen will fall into the sea on the day that seven brothers marry seven sisters, just as the wedding party rows through the fjord on their way to church.