Torghatten

Torghatten is a granite mountain on the island of Torget in Brønnøy Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is known for its characteristic hole, or natural tunnel, through its center.[1] It is possible to walk up to the tunnel on a well-prepared path, and through it on a natural path.

This article is about the mountain in Brønnøy. For the transport company, see Torghatten ASA.
Torghatten
View of the mountain
Highest point
Elevation258 m (846 ft)
Prominence258 m (846 ft)
Coordinates65°23′54″N 12°05′23″E 
Geography
Torghatten
Location in Nordland
LocationBrønnøy, Nordland, Norway
Topo map1725 I Brønnøysund

On 6 May 1988, Widerøe Flight 710 from Namsos to Brønnøysund crashed into the side of the mountain, and all the 36 passengers and crew died.[2]

Tunnel
For a cargo ship (1911), sailing during two world wars, see SS Hestmanden.

According to legend, the hole was made by the troll Hestmannen while he was chasing the beautiful girl Lekamøya. As the troll realized he would not get the girl, he released an arrow to kill her, but the troll-king of Sømna threw his hat into the arrow's path to save her. The hat turned into the mountain with a hole in the middle. Also, Felice Vinci has linked the legends about Torghatten to the Homeric myth of Polyphemus.

The tunnel is 160 metres (520 ft) long, 20 metres (66 ft) wide, and 35 metres (115 ft) high. It was formed during the Scandinavian ice age. Ice and water eroded the looser rocks, while the harder ones in the mountain top have resisted erosion.[3]

See also
  • The large hole in Torghatten
  • The climb up to the hole is not too difficult
  • View from the south
  • Torghatten in February
  • Torghatten Mountain taken from Viking Sea
  • Closeup of the Hole 1
  • Closeup of the Hole 2

References
  1. "Gallery-Norway-Torghatten". Retrieved 4 Aug 2010.
  2. "Dental identification after the Dash 7 aircraft accident at Torghatten, Northern Norway, May 6th, 1988". J Forensic Odontostomatol. 10 (1): 15–24. June 1992. PMID 1429934.
  3. "Torghatten, Scenic Attractions". Retrieved 4 Aug 2010.


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