Flåm, Railway village at Aurlandsfjord, Norway
Flåm sits at the innermost point of Aurlandsfjord, enclosed by mountains rising around 1,800 meters and multiple waterfalls pouring down cliff faces. The landscape shows steep terrain on most sides, with the fjord providing the only open vista from the settlement.
The railway line took over 20 years to develop and was completed in 1942, representing a technical achievement with a steep gradient of around 1:18 through mountain terrain. The project required the carving of about 20 tunnels through rock, which presented an extraordinary challenge at the time.
The village keeps alive traditional craftsmanship, particularly the Aurland method of shoemaking, which residents still practice today. These skills remain central to the community's sense of identity and daily culture.
Train connections to Bergen and Oslo depart from Myrdal station, which is reachable from the village, while cruise ships dock regularly between April and October. Visitors should be aware that the mountain location means weather can change quickly and access roads may be restricted depending on conditions.
The railway museum displays original trains and equipment, including locomotives that operated on this demanding line. The exhibits show the manual techniques used for tunnel construction before modern explosives and machinery became standard practice.
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