Preikestolen or Prekestolen
is a tourist attraction in the municipality of Strand in Rogaland county, Norway.
Preikestolen is a steep cliff which
rises 604 metres (1,982 ft.) above the Lysefjorden. Atop the cliff,
there is an almost flat top of approximately 25 by 25 metres. Preikestolen is located near the
Western part of the fjord, and on its North side.
Tourism at the site
has been increasing in the early 21st century, with between 150,000 and 200,000
visitors in 2012, making it one of the most visited natural tourist attractions
in Norway.
The
cliff was formed during the ice age, approximately
10,000 years ago, when the edges of the glacier reached the cliff.
The water from the glacier froze in the crevices of the mountain and eventually
broke off large, angular blocks, which were later carried away with the
glacier. This is the cause of the angular shape of the plateau. Along the
plateau itself there continues to be a deep crack. Due to these cracks, the
plateau will at some point fall down, but all the geological investigations
have revealed that this will not happen in the foreseeable future, and
geologists have confirmed the safety of the plateau.
