Introduction to Eidfjord

149km (92 miles) E of Bergen; 336km (208 miles) W of Oslo

North of Kinsarvik, the Eidfjord district, centering around the village of Eidfjord, is one of the oldest settlements in Norway. Stone Age hunters came through here following the migrations of the reindeer to put steaks on their table. Some 1,000 people still inhabit the northern tip of Hardangerfjord, making their living through agriculture and tourism.

Hikers flock here to go into the hinterlands, where they encounter members of Europe's largest herd of wild reindeer. These same hikers also encounter cascading waterfalls, fjord farms, and mountain lodges in and around Hardangerfjorden, which sends "fingers" of deep water into the innermost reaches of the country. Fishermen come here to catch mountain trout that will be cooked for them later that night at their hotel. The town itself enjoys one of the most scenic locations in the district, nestled between a deep fjord and a deep lake, the Eidfjordvatnet.