Hellesylt, Norway

Hellesylt is an old Viking port, located in the municipality of Stranda in Norway. The town and its surrounding area are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a completely ordinary, provincial settlement, surrounded by mountains and valleys. Only 253 people live in Hellesylt. Mostly, this place is visited by those who arrive by ferry from Geiranger or, conversely, set off there. The fame and popularity of this little village are also ensured by the fairly well-known Sunnulvsfjord, which runs for 20 km between Geiranger and Hellesylt. Along the entire length of the fjord, it is bordered by tall cliffs and mountains with elevations up to 1.5 thousand meters.

Hellesylt is separated from the Geirangerfjord by the Brixdalsbreen glacier. They are connected by a scenic road that gently climbs to an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level and then, sharply down along a winding serpentine road called the “Troll Road,” descends to the Geirangerfjord.

The main attraction of Hellesylt itself is the Hellesyltfossen waterfall, gushing right in the center of the village. Near the waterfall stands the Sunnylven Church. It was built in 1859, and already in 1862 the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen visited here, describing this place in the play “Brand.”

From Hellesylt, tourists head on excursions to the Geirangerfjord or to the Brixdalsbreen glacier.

Brixdalsbreen is just one of 50 branches of the large Jostedalsbreen glacier. In the 1990s, Brixdalsbreen attracted international attention because, during the period 1967–97, it grew by 465 m, while the other European glaciers were shrinking. True, in recent years the Brixdalsbreen has also begun to melt actively-each year it retreats by 8–12 m. An unusually picturesque road leads to the glacier, passing by waterfalls, and on the glacier itself you can get right up to the ice and even touch it. Brixdalsbreen gives the lake below an astonishing color.

Geirangerfjord is one of the branches of the Storfjord. It is located about 200 kilometers north-east of Bergen and 280 kilometers north-west of Oslo. The fjord stretches for 15 kilometers. In July 2005, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The main attractions of the Geirangerfjord are the many waterfalls you can find here almost every hundred meters. The most popular are “The Seven Sisters Waterfall,” “The Suitor,” and “The Bridal Veil.” The steep cliffs along the coastline, rising to more than 1400 meters above sea level and topped by glaciers, take your breath away.

The mild maritime climate of the western part of the region is replaced by a continental one (in the central areas), while extreme northern Norway is under the influence of subarctic weather conditions. Throughout the whole calendar year, there is plenty of precipitation; the “wettest” seasons are autumn and winter. Overall, the climate in Norway is harsh, but there are periods when conditions for visiting are quite favorable. These are mid-winter (January-February), April-May, and the end of summer (August-September).

January and February are relatively warm only in the West, and although small frosts are possible here, the average daily maximum temperature ranges from 0 to +2° C. The amount of precipitation during this period is from 140 to 180 mm. As for the central areas, frosts begin in October and last until mid-March. During the day, frosts are not severe-only 5–7 degrees-but at night the temperature sometimes drops to -20° C. In other words, in winter the weather in Norway varies from one region to another.

Over the three spring months, temperatures gradually rise, and daytime temperatures increase from +6 to +15° C. By the end of May, stable warm weather sets in, and precipitation decreases (from 140 mm in April to 80 mm in May). As for the water temperature in the sea and other bodies of water, it rarely rises above +10° C. Interestingly, spring in Norway is the driest season, especially in the central and western parts of the country. During March, April, and May, the number of days with precipitation can be as low as 11, and precipitation amount can fall to 30–50 mm. The spring months are the best time to visit Norway, when the likelihood that the weather during trips around the country will be warm and sunny is highest.

In our understanding, summer is the time for beach holidays and sea развлечений (marine leisure). Considering the specifics of a northern country, adjustments should be made to the summer itinerary in Norway. In the warmest days, in the mildest climate zone, daytime air temperature does not exceed +18–20° C. The hottest (by local standards) month is July. At that time, it is warm and sunny throughout the country-humidity levels are the only difference. Fairly humid weather in Norway in summer is characteristic of the north (around 140 mm). An important indicator for the summer period is the nighttime air temperature, which averages +10° C (but not below +6° C) across almost the entire country. Tour operators recommend not delaying your visit until the end of August, when it can suddenly get colder and the rainy season begins.

As for September weather, starting from the beginning of the month the humidity level rises and precipitation increases. September and October are the most rainy and overcast months of the year. During this time, monthly precipitation can reach 240 mm. September’s temperature figures (+11–15° C) sharply contrast with November’s (+5–7° C). The number of days with precipitation also increases sharply, and in November it reaches twenty or more.