Sysendammen, Embankment dam in Eidfjord, Norway
Sysendammen is an embankment dam in Eidfjord, built from moraine and stone, running about 3,830 feet (1,167 m) long and standing about 265 feet (81 m) tall, with a crest width of about 813 feet (248 m). It holds back the waters of the Sysenvassdraget river to form a reservoir that feeds into the Sima hydroelectric power system.
The dam was completed in 1980, during a period when Norway was investing heavily in hydroelectric power to meet growing energy demand. The project was linked to the construction of the Sima and Leiro power stations, which came online around the same time.
The dam sits along Route 7 through Hardangervidda, and many travelers stop here on their way between Bergen and Oslo. The reservoir created by the structure has become a recognizable part of the valley's landscape for anyone passing through.
The dam is visible from Route 7 and there are pull-off areas nearby where you can stop and take in the view. Weather in this part of Hardangervidda can shift quickly, so layers and waterproof clothing are a good idea regardless of the season.
The builders used moraine left behind by glaciers thousands of years ago, which happened to be readily available at the construction site. This made the dam one of the larger structures of its kind in Norway built almost entirely from material already present in the ground.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
