Jotunheimen Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Jotunheimen
View from Galdhøpiggen
Highest point
Peak	Galdhøpiggen
Elevation	2,469 m (8,100 ft)
Geography
Country	Norway
County	Sogn og Fjordane and Oppland
Range coordinates	61°38′N 8°18′E / 61.633°N 8.300°E / 61.633; 8.300
Parent range	Scandinavian Mountains
Geology
Orogeny	Caledonian orogeny

Jotunheimen is a huge mountain area in southern Norway. Its name means "the home of the Jotnar," who are giants from old Norse stories. This area is about 3,500 square kilometers (1,350 square miles). It's part of the long Scandinavian Mountains range.

Jotunheimen is home to Norway's 29 tallest mountains. The highest one, Galdhøpiggen, stands at 2,469 meters (8,100 feet) tall! This amazing place is located across two counties: Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane.

The Name Jotunheimen
Jotunheimen National Park
Outdoor Adventures
Scenic Roads
Ancient Discoveries
Images for kids
See also

The Name Jotunheimen

For a long time, this big mountain area didn't have a common name. In 1820, a Norwegian geologist and mountaineer named Baltazar Mathias Keilhau suggested a name. He called it Jotunfjeldene, which means "the mountains of the Jotnar." He got this idea from a German mountain range called Riesengebirge.

Later, in 1862, a poet named Aasmund Olavsson Vinje changed the name. He called it Jotunheimen. This name was directly inspired by Jötunheimr, a place in Norse mythology where the giants (Jotnar) lived.

Jotunheimen National Park

Trout fishing in Jotunheimen, Norway

A large part of Jotunheimen is protected as Jotunheimen National Park. This park was created in 1980. It covers an area of 1,151 square kilometers (444 square miles).

Inside the national park, you'll find the Hurrungane mountain range. This area has some of the sharpest and most dramatic peaks in Jotunheimen. Right next to the park is the Utladalen Nature Reserve. This reserve protects the beautiful Utladalen valley and mountains like Falketind.

Outdoor Adventures

Jotunheimen is a very popular place for people who love the outdoors. Many visitors enjoy hiking and climbing here. The Norwegian Mountain Touring Association helps people explore the area safely.

They manage several mountain lodges where hikers can stay. They also keep many trails marked. Some trails connect the lodges, while others lead up to the mountain peaks.

Scenic Roads

You can drive through parts of Jotunheimen on special roads. The Sognefjell Road is a National Tourist Route. It goes from Skjolden to Lom. Another road, the RV 51, travels from Gol to Vågå. This road passes through the unique area called Valdresflya.

Ancient Discoveries

In August 2006, something amazing was found in Jotunheimen. It was an old leather shoe, now known as the Jotunheimen shoe. Experts believe this shoe was made between 1800 and 1100 BCE (Before Common Era). This makes it the oldest piece of clothing ever found in Scandinavia!

The shoe was discovered with other items, like arrows and a wooden spade. This suggests that the area was once an important hunting ground for ancient people.