Dyrkorn

What’s 3,539 meters long and has an opening at both ends? It’s the Stordal Tunnel, which we’re now driving through. Opened in 1998, it gave travelers a safe and reliable road through what was once one of the most avalanche-prone areas in the region. When we come out of the tunnel, keep your eyes open — the beautiful fjord village of Dyrkorn will appear like an oasis between the mountains. People here have lived off farming for generations, and at the top of the valley you’ll find old farms with sweeping views of the fjord. From Dyrkorn you can visit the traditional Gjerdsstølen summer farm, or start one of several hiking trails leading straight up into the mountains. Down by the fjord are the old Dyrkorn industrial buildings, once used to produce fishing gear. Today, the world-renowned textile company Devold runs a summer outlet here. Nearby stands the Dyrkorn Power Station, built in 1913, which supplied electricity to the factory, local farmers, and homes. Dyrkorn may be a small village, but its sense of community is strong — and its traditions live on, just in slightly more modern forms.