The Voringsfossen Waterfall.
182 meters (597 feet) free-fall.
The Hardangervidda is the largest mountain plateau in northern Europe and is situated 1000 to 1300 meters (3281 to 4265 feet) above sea level. The landscape varies between an almost flat mountain plateau in the north and east to an undulating terrain in the south and west. During an earlier period the plateau was covered in ice. As the ice receded, the land rose and the rivers cut deep gorges through the bedrock. In Eidfjord, the Voringsfossen, Valurfossen and Skykkjedalsfossen waterfalls are examples of this.
The Bjoreio river cascades out into the gorge at Voringsfossen, tapping great volumes of water from the Hardangerjokulen glacier. The Voringsfossen drains an area of approximately 630 Square kilometres.
The wildlife around Voringsfossen and the tremendous displacement of water enticed explorers. artists and tourists early in the 19th Century. It was then a long trip across the plateau or up the Mabodalen valley.
The river became regulated for hydroelectric power in 1980. Before the commencement of the project, a volume upwards of 150 cubic meters per second might have been flowing over the cliff at given time. It is still possible to witness such amounts of water plummeting over the falls during the spring thaw. A guaranteed minimum of 12 cubic meters of water per second is presently regulated between the 1st of June and the 15th of September.
Source: Information board on site