Hi everyone, welcome to my channel where I share my hikes and adventures in Norway and sometimes abroad.
Today, I’m going to show you a beautiful hike to Mannen, the highest point on Haramsøya island, and tell you the story of how this island was once split in two by a wind park. I’ll also visit the charming Lepsøyrevet lighthouse on the way. If you like this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more content like this.
Driving to Haramsøya I recommend a short visit to the Lepsøyrevet lighthouse, which is located on a small islet connected to the mainland by a breakwater. The lighthouse was established in 1879 and is white with a red roof. It stands 11,5 meters. Before the lighthouse was lit, the first lighthouse ship in the country was in the harbor outside the reef. Because of the Lepsøyrevet reef that stretched across the mainland and Lepsøya, ships could only pass through a narrow channel in the reef. It now acts as a museum, where you can learn about its history and see some old equipment and photos. The museum is open from June to August, and it costs 50 kroner to enter3
The wind park was built in 2020 and started up in 2021. It consisted of 8 wind turbines that generated electricity for the island and the mainland. However, the park was controversial, as it divided the island in two, those fore and those against the wind park, and affected the landscape and the wildlife. Many locals protested against the project and demanded its removal. They formed a group called “Nei til vindkraft på Harmasøya which means “No to wind power on Haramsøya”. They organized demonstrations, petitions, and lawsuits to stop the wind park. They argued that the wind park was harmful to the environment, the culture, and the tourism of the island. They also claimed that the wind park was not necessary, as the island already had enough electricity from other sources
The conflict escalated throughout 2020 and 2021, and resulted in several arrests, fines, and court rulings. The police had to intervene several times to remove the protesters from the construction site, and the developers had to hire security guards to protect the workers and the equipment
The wind power plant is expected to produce about 113 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of about 7,000 households, was it worth destroying a mountain, and dividing neighbors, creating conflict and anger? I leave it up to you to decide.
After about an hour of walking, I reached the top of Haramsfjellet, where a large cairn marked the highest point. The view from here was stunning, as I could see the whole island and the neighboring islands of Lepsøya, Flemsøya, and Skuløya. I could also see the mainland and the Sunnmøre Alps in the distance. The weather was clouded and with some light snow in between the breakage in the clouds, and there was a cold icy wind blowing. The sun sits low in the sky this time of the year, and we only have about 7 hours of sunlight during the day. I took some photos and videos, and enjoyed the scenery for a while.
Then, I decided to end my hike and head back to my car. I retraced my steps along the road and the bridge and back to Ålesund
The hike was about 6 kilometers in total, and it took me about 2 hours, including the stops along the way. It was a moderate hike, with some steep sections, but nothing too difficult. I had a great time exploring Haramsøya, and I highly recommend this hike to anyone who wants to see some of the hidden gems of Norway.
Thank you for watching this video, and I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please leave a comment and let me know what you think. And if you want to see more videos like this, please subscribe to my channel and hit the bell icon to get notified of new uploads. I’ll see you in the next video, bye!
12 сен 2024
