Andalsnes, Norway

Åndalsnes - a town in Norway, in the county of Møre og Romsdal. It is the administrative centre of the municipality of Rauma. This is a small town, located near the Rauma Fjord on the banks of the Rauma River and famous for salmon fishing. The population as of 1 January 2011 was 2,231 people.

Situated on the banks of the Rauma River at the foot of the Trolltinden mountains, it is surrounded by mountain peaks, making its appearance even more picturesque. To the south of the town is the famous Troll Wall. And to the south-west there stretches no less renowned the Troll Staircase (Road) - a popular tourist road and a masterpiece of road engineering, leading to the Geiranger Fjord, recognized as the most beautiful fjord in the world.

Troll Road - the most famous road in Norway. It was built in 1936. Today it climbs up the mountainside with eleven steep serpentine loops, with a height difference of 12%. Several excellent viewpoints are equipped along the road; in some places there are small cafes and souvenir shops. Halfway down, you can cross a bridge over the foaming Stigfossen Waterfall (waterfall height 180 metres). To view these stunning natural attractions, you can use the Rauma Railway (Raumabanen): special excursion trains run from Åndalsnes to Bjorli. The train stops at Trollvigen (“Troll Wall”) - the highest sheer mountain wall in Europe.

Hiking enthusiasts can also go to the beautiful mountain Bispen Lake. The hike to the lake takes about 1 hour, with an elevation gain of 300 m along a good, well-marked trail.

The climate in Åndalsnes is moderately cold. Throughout the year, a significant amount of precipitation falls here; even in the driest season, it is not without rain. The driest month is May. Most of the precipitation falls in December. About 997 mm of precipitation falls per year.

The average annual temperature in the town is 6 °C. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 14 °C. The average temperature in January is 0 °C. This is the coldest month of the year.