People have lived along the fjords and between the fjords and the mountains for thousands of years. In a harsh natural environment and a demanding climate they found a way to make a living based on fishing and agriculture. One of the clearest signs of old cultural history is the many abandoned farms along Sunnylvsfjorden and Geirangerfjorden. A trip to one of these will be a high point of your holiday.
The old fjord farms are one of the foremost cultural monuments we have,
as they are located in out of the way spots down by the fjord, or high
up on rock shelves. Farms such as Skageflå, Blomberg, Oaldsbygda and
Knivsflå tell us about bygone days, when a small patch of ground, some
goats and perhaps a cow were enough to survive on. The conditions were
tough, but life here could also be good at times.
You can learn about the fjord farms by visiting them. Most are easily
accessible by boat (either a hired boat or on a sightseeing trip from
Geiranger) and a good pair of legs. At the Norwegian Fjord Centre in
Geiranger you can learn more about how the fjords were formed and how
the people lived. The Fjord Centre is a part of the World Heritage
organisation in Geiranger and exhibitions also include geology, fauna
and animal life.
The Friends of Storfjorden have carried out invaluable work taking care
of the cultural heritage represented by the fjord farms. Many of them
were in danger of being lost to the ravages of time, but tireless work
by many voluntary hands has saved the farms for posterity.