The site focuses on the production of fertilizers by using hydro energy. At the core of this site are the Norsk Hydro production- and power plants, but also the Rjukan and Notodden company towns and the transport system between both towns (rail and ferry).

This probably isn’t a site that will appeal to many but because of mr. Kbecq’s professional interest in this industry we couldn’t visit Oslo without also visiting Rjukan and Notodden. We hired a car in Oslo and although it was winter (March) we made it to Rjukan without problems.

In Rjukan we first visited the Vemork power plant, a couple of kilometers outside Rjukan, which now houses the Industrial Workers museum. Despite the name, the museum mainly focuses on the heavy water production (for nuclear weapons) sabotage by the Norwegian resistance during WW II. The movie ‘The Heroes of Telemark’ (1965, with Kirk Douglas) is about these events and also shows the rail / ferry transports.  

Afterwards, we went to the centre of Rjukan and walked along the river where all the production facilities are located. Since most facilities are converted to office buildings, there is not that much to see but the location in the valley is nice. The building that stands out most is the Såheim power plant.

Our day ended with a ride on the Krossobanen (cable car) to the Hardangervidda plateau. From here, you have a magnificent view on Rjukan / the valley and on the Gaustatoppen mountain (cf. picture).

The next day we headed for Notodden, but a couple of stops in between the two cities are worth mentioning. First there is Mæl train station, the end of the ‘Rjukanbanen’ railway line from Vemork to Mæl. At this point, the trains are driven into ferries to cross Tinnsjå lake. The two still existing ferries (S/F Ammonia and M/F Storegut) were also docked here.

Driving along Tinnsjå lake, there is a parking with a monument commemorating the sinking of ferry SF Hydro as part of the ‘heavy water war’ (cf. above).

The ferries arrived in Tinnoset where the trains were offloaded and continued on the ‘Tinnosbanen’ railway line to Notodden.

In Notodden, the industrial area is a bit more clustered than in Rjukan, but like in Rjukan most buildings are converted into office space. Right next to the industrial area is the geometric workers neighborhood and the administration buildings. A little bit farther away are the Tinfos I and II power plants.

In case you only have time to visit Rjukan or Notodden, we would opt for Rjukan because of the nicer setting in the valley, the more ‘industrial town’ feeling and the Vemork power plant.   

Ps: note that the nomination file includes good maps, descriptions, … and is therefore very helpful in locating and understanding the different sites.