Romsdalen

For the broader district in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway, see Romsdal.
Romsdalen
View of the Romsdalen valley
Length60 km (37 mi) NW-SE
Geology
TypeRiver valley
Geography
Population centersÅndalsnes
Coordinates62°26′50″N 07°50′00″E / 62.44722°N 7.83333°E / 62.44722; 7.83333 
RiversRauma River

Romsdalen is a valley in the western part of Norway. The 60-kilometre (37 mi) long valley runs through Rauma Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county and Lesja Municipality in Innlandet county. It is the valley of the Rauma river, from Old Norse word Raumsdalr which means Rauma valley. The traditional district of Romsdal, which makes up about one-third of Møre og Romsdal county, is named for the valley of Romsdalen. The main road E136 and the Rauma line runs along the valley floor.[1]

Mannen is an unstable rock formation above the valley. Mannen is expected to someday slide into the valley, blocking the river. This could result in devastating flooding downstream if the river suddenly breaks through the dam created by the rockslide.[2] Around Remmem and Flatmark the valley is littered with huge rocks or boulders that have fallen from the high mountains surrounding the valley.[3]

Trolltindene and other summits on the western edge are protected as part of Reinheimen National Park.[4] Alpine summits around Isterdalen and Trollstigen are partly within the national park, partly within Trollstigen protected landscape area.[5]

  1. ^ Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (2015-12-09). "Romsdalen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  2. ^ Talberg, Øystein (2009-06-17). "Skrekkscenario av dimensjonar". Åndalsnes Avis (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  3. ^ Helland, Amund (1911). Topografisk-statistisk beskrivelse over Romsdals amt (in Norwegian). Oslo: Aschehoug.
  4. ^ "Reinheimen nasjonalpark" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Environment Agency. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  5. ^ "Trollstigen landskapsvernområde" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Environment Agency. Retrieved 2019-07-02.