Hestmannen
| Torghatten | |
|---|---|
View of the mountain
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 258 m (846 ft) |
| Prominence | 258 m (846 ft) |
| Coordinates | 65°23′54″N 12°05′23″E / 65.39833°N 12.08972°ECoordinates: 65°23′54″N 12°05′23″E / 65.39833°N 12.08972°E |
| Geography | |
 Torghatten
Location in Nordland
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| Location | Brønnøy, Nordland, Norway |
| Topo map | 1725 I Brønnøysund |
Torghatten is a granite mountain on Torget island in Brønnøy municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is known for its characteristic hole, or natural tunnel, through its center. It is possible to walk up to the tunnel on a well-prepared path, and through it on a natural path.
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.
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.
The large hole in Torghatten
The climb up to the hole is not too difficult
View from the south
Torghatten in February
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Wikipedia