Tinn municipality has approximately 6.000 inhabitants and covers a area of 2.044,9 km2, of which some 4.000 live in Rjukan, the administrative centre. Outside Rjukan the population is mainly engaged in farming and forestry, around the two communities of Atrå and Tinn Austbygd.
Popular cabin areas are to be found in the valleys which stretch out towards Numedal, Tessungdalen, Skjervedal, and Nystødalen. There are developed tourist areas at Gaustablikk below the Gaustatoppen mountain and at Skinnarbu near the Møsvatn lake. Krossobanen is the oldest aerial tramway in Northern Europe. It was built in 1928 as a gift from Norsk Hydro. There is a museum and Hardangervidda National Park center at the lake Møsvatn close to Tinn.
The Rjukanfossen waterfall on the Måna river allowed construction of Vemork, the largest power station in the world in 1911. The station has become a museum where one can explore the history of the energy and see exhibits about the industrial development in Norway and at Rjukan, the municipality center of Tinn. The museum is most famous for its presentation of Rjukan’s war history.
During World War II, Vemork was the site of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage, when Norwegian saboteurs prevented the Germans from producing nuclear weapons from the heavy water which was produced here. The exhibit “The nuclear race” (“Atomkappløpet”) presents the four heavy water sabotages and the allied efforts to develop a nuclear bomb.
RJUKAN
The town was created by Norsk Hydro at the turn of the century. The name comes from Rjukanfossen, the “smoking” falls, which were a famous sight before Sam Eyde harnessed it as the new community´s most important source of power. The Rjukan plant was the only location in Europe which produced heavy water, a component the Allied powers in World War II feared would be used as part of the German atomic bomb project, and consequently was the target of several commando and air raids and a sabotage raid which eventually resulted in the plant´s destruction and later reconstruction. (This story was portrayed in the Kirk Douglas movie The Heroes of Telemark.)
Before it was developed by Norsk Hydro, Vestfjorddalen was a road-less, barely accessible out-of-the-way place. In the course of just a few years it was transformed into a thriving industrial area which at one time numbered some 9.000 inhabitants, a pioneering undertaking without parallel in Norwegian industrial history.
Giant mirrors have been positioned on top of a hill in Norway to shine light into the dark valley town of Rjukan. The mighty Gaustatoppen and the steep hillsides south of the city makes Rjukan whitout sunshine during the winter months, from October to March. Every year they celebrated the sun´s return with great SolFest the square.
Now you can ride 84 meters above the Vemorks gorge, attached to a wire. Telemark Opplevelser arranges one of Norway´s highest zip-lines. This means that you are attached to a ladder that is hooked on a tight wire. The force of gravity takes over and you cross across the gorge on Rjukan!
RJUKANFOSSEN WATERFALL
Rjukanfossen is a waterfall of 104 metres in the western part of the Vestfjord valley. The waterfall is a part of the Måne river, earlier a major tourist attraction, being one of the first floodlighted waterfalls by electricity produced by the same waterfall. In 1905 Rjukanfossen was built out to produce hydro electrical power for the saltpetre production when Norsk Hydro was established.
HYDRO ALUMINIUM
The company was established to take advantage of the hydro-electric power plants in the respective villages to create aluminum plants. Hydro is the fourth largest integrated aluminium company world wide. In Norway Hydro has plants in Rjukan, Raufoss, Vennesla, Karmøy, Høyanger, Årdal, Sunndalsøra, Holmestrand and Magnor.
LAKE TINN
Lake Tinn (Tinnsjø, Tinnsjøen, Tinnsjå) is one of the largest lakes in Norway, and one of the deepest in Europe. It is located between the municipalities of Tinn and Notodden. At its source in the west, the Måna river flows out of Møsvatn and past Rjukan into Lake Tinn. From the north, the river Mår flows from the Mår, Gøystavatn, and Kalhovdfjorden lakes into Lake Tinn. Lake Tinn is part of the Skiensvassdraget, and drains via the Tinnelva river in the south, down to Heddalsvatn.
In 1944, during the German occupation of Norway, the ferry SF Hydro was sunk in Lake Tinn by the Norwegian resistance. The Germans were using the ferry to transport a large quantity of heavy water to Germany, where it was to be used for nuclear weapon research. The heavy water had been produced at Vemork. The wreck of the ferry was discovered in 1993.
KROSSOBANEN
The Krossobanen is Norway’s first cabin railway, and was built by Hydro as a welfare measure to enable the people of Rjukan to get to see the sun when it does not shine down into the valley. The upper station, Gvepseborg, lies at a height of 890 metres and gives a splendid view across the Vestfjord valley towards the Gaustatoppen mountain.
GAUSTATOPPEN PEAK
At 1.883 metres, it is Telemark’s highest mountain. It can be climbed by following a clearly marked route trom the Rjukan-Tuddal road. From the summit one sixth of Norway can be seen when visibility is good. A cabin built at the summit in 1893 is open for refreshments during the season.
Gaustabanen consists of a battery driven car on a cable that carries passengers approximately 860 metres horizontally up inside the mountain. Right in the centre of the mountain there is a station, with an angled shuttle line of 1040 metres that rises to 1800 metres above sea level.
MÅR POWER STATION
One of Statkraft’s power stations that is open to the public. This power station was completed in 1954, and boasts the world’s longest wooden steps inside a mountain 3,975 steps. The puwer station operates at ful] capacity, which has guided tours twice daily in Norwegian, German and English during the summer from approx. 20 June to 15 August. Guiding of groups all year round, has to be booked in advance.
SELSTALI SETER
Situated in the Gausdal valley. Here you can see how alpine pasture farming is done, watching the milking and making of butter, cheese, whey cheese and sour cream the old fashioned way. The produce is also for sale. Groups of up to 50 people can be catered for, serving alpine pasture farm food. but this must he booked in advance.
VEMORK INDUSTRIAL WORKERS MUSEUM
Old power station and water race. These have been preserved and are now a monument to the development of Norway’s heavy industry. It was here that the sabotage of the heavy water plant was carried out during World War II. The three departments in the museum deal with the war and the heavy water sabotage, the energy section based on hydro-electric power and industrial workers.
RJUKAN and TINN MUSEUM
Rjukan og Tinn Museum occupies an important place in Rjukan. There are 22 old houses from different parts of Tinn here. They are well fitted and provide a picture of life and living conditions in poor communities before industry made its presence felt. An old schoolroom is full of costumes and other examples of folk art. Part of the museum also deals with the resistance, with a collection of objects and photos from Rjukan’s particularly dramatic involvement in the history of the war.
UNESCO´s LIST
Located in a dramatic landscape of mountains, waterfalls and river valleys, the site comprises hydroelectric power plants, transmission lines, factories, transport systems and towns. The complex was established by the Norsk-Hydro Company to manufacture artificial fertilizer from nitrogen in the air. It was built to meet the Western world’s growing demand for agricultural production in the early 20th century. The company towns of Rjukan and Notodden show workers’ accommodation and social institutions linked by rail and ferry to ports where the fertilizer was loaded. The Rjukan-Notodden site manifests an exceptional combination of industrial assets and themes associated to the natural landscape. It stands out as an example of a new global industry in the early 20th century.
ICE CLIMBING
Rjukan is reckoned the best location in Northern Europe for ice climbing. Over 170 frozen waterfalls in a particularly long and stable winter season provide enticing conditions for climbers from all over the world. It is waterfalls for all levels and most of them are easily accessible. Offers climbing courses of varying durations, in the summer and winter. Climbing on frozen waterfalls. Contact: Climb-inn, Telemark-opplevelser, Iceclimbrjukan and Rockfax.
TINN RURAL EXHIBITION
Sales exhibition of handicrafts and applied arts. There are also annual guest exhibitions. Each exhibition has a new main theme each year.
ÅSBERG DYREGARD
Nature trail. Riding lessons. Horses available for hire by the hour. Excursions with horse and carriage.
HORSERACK ACROSS HARDANGERVIDDA
Base at Kalhovd Tourist cabin. Weeklong course, all meals provided.
M/B FJELLVAKEN
Boat trips at an altitude of 900 metres above sealevel from Møsvatn to Mogen. 2.5 hour trip in a beautiful mountain setting. Starting point for the Norwegian Tourist Association’s Hardanger plateau route net. Between approx. 25.6 and 15.9.
M/B MÅRFJORD
Boat trip from Stegaros to Marhu on the Mårvatn lake, some 1,000 metres above sea level. Starting point for the Norwegian Tourist Association network of routes on Hardangervidda plateau. The trip takes around I hour.
Rjukan Trekking in the footsteps of the heavy water saboteurs. From Rjukan Fjellstue to Vemork. Guided tour along the saboteur trail. Starts and finishes in the car park at Norsk Industriarbeidermuseum (The Norwegian Industrial Workers’ Museum).
SKIING
Gaustablikk is situated at the foot of Gaustatoppen, the highest mountain in Southern Norway. Gaustablikk ski resort has 21 runs and 7 ski lifts.
FISHING
Tinn township has approximately 2.200 lakes and rivers with trout and char. Many of the lakes and rivers can be used with a fishing permit. The tourist office has a brochure showing where you can fish. Fishing for pleasure is something for everyone, and many of the lakes and rivers are very easy to get to. Remember to buy the state fishing permit in addition. (It can be purchased at all post offices).
GOLF
Rjukan and Tinn Golfclub is under construction.