The Norwegian Fjords

or the last 270 years. The Kongsberg silver-mines, which are owned by the State, have alone some fifty square miles of State forest set apart for their requirements. The ore

Arvedalsgrube, and Storvatsgrube; the ore found in them is copper pyrites, and a large quantity is exported. Ther

ining has not been very profitable, and many old works have been closed. The Arendal iron-ore

ning i

e importance, the reason being that, although the country is fairly rich in minera

st inaccessible country, and as coal does not occur except on the out-of-the

uarried in considerable quantities, and is now extensively used for

oss and in Valders. Granite, syenite, and porphyry

occur in several places-at Arendal, for example-and these

by bare and massive mountains, L?rdals?ren owes its chief, perhaps only, claim to importance from being the chief avenue of traffic to the Sogne Fjord from the land side. Owing to

rd

ver. The valley through which this river flows is superbly wild and picturesque; the mountains which enclose it are bare, rocky, and desolate. The

dal

ing now far above the present level of the river. We may also see, as we proceed, that the road crosses several ancient lake basi

urch of its kind in the country. It is not now used for Divine service, a new and more commodious church having been built near by, for the better convenience of the inhabitants of the district. This ancient "stavkirke" of Borgund is now the property of the Antiquarian Society of Christia

unar thissar th

se lines on the f

ated in the grandest portion of

ing by the margin of the still fjord, see the first discernible star of evening prick his image like a diamond in the calm water, while all around the great mountains repeat t

aintest plash of the oars is heard, and voices perhaps imagined. A line of sparkling light marks o

lithest mood, we should be dull mortals indeed if we were not touched by some chord in the m

ndicates the prelude to a hot day, so we take some little care to place in a shady p

mountain and crag, tree, and grazing cow. The steamer ploughs along, and the l

h fjord of the same name. The hamlet is picturesquely situated on an elevation abo

p and awful chasm from a height of some 900 feet. The way to it is romantic and rough, and, to add a spice of flavour

way to the waterfall, destructive avalanches of rock are

er F

-the scenery is diversified and beautiful, but milder in

nd grand, in character somewhat resembling that of the Lake of

e of giants ("j?tun") according to Norse mythology. This wonderful group of mountains is in the very heart of the country, and it is he

nconvenient and dangerous torrents, and the services of trustworthy guides secured at all convenient places in this extensive district; so that for pedestrian expeditions made through this region now, although involving much rough walking and conseq

by the Jostedalselv and its tributaries, this valley is, like most Norwegian valleys, a deep ravine, especially at its head. It divides an exten

s and picturesquely situated. The branch valleys are richly cultivat

m) Kroken, which is situated at the foot of Krokedalen, being the most famous. Near the

churches in the district of Lyst

ory opposite the village of Solvorn, which

it stands is some 300 feet above the fjord. The church was built about the year 1100, at the time that Christianity was introduced

ish influence in the design and craftsmanship. On several of the pillars inside the church are writi

h, Lyster,

e, some of the material of which may be traced in the existing building. The

overlooking the fjord to S

(a huge burial mound), where, according to local tradition, the Viking Ragnvald was buri

ic interments. The fjord steamers seldom call here, but across the fjord at Solvorn boats may be hired to ro