
Kjeåsen
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On the other side of the fjord and 600 meters up on the steep mountainside, you see Kjeåsen, where the farm is situated on a mountain ledge, almost like an eagle's nest. The name of the place is derived from "kje," or small goat kids, probably reflecting the challenging terrain that was most suitable for goats. It was likely not the view or fear of tax collectors that drew the first people there in the mid-1600s, but rather the excellent hunting opportunities and enough land for self-sufficiency. Regardless, it was undoubtedly a challenging life to reside in a place where "no one would believe anyone could live." Kjeåsen was featured in a program in the popular NRK series with the same name. In the beginning, the only way up the steep mountainside was along bolted paths over dizzying rocks, a route for the truly daring. This was the only connection to the outside world and the school route for the children. They carried everything they needed on their backs, and all materials were transported plank by plank. It took 30 years to build one of the houses at Kjeåsen. In 1893 and 1937, it's likely that those at Kjeåsen were safe while Simadalen valley below endured floods that swept away 20 houses, yet no human lives were lost. The farm has been called the "world's most inaccessible," but that has changed. Today, Kjeåsen can be visited by car on perhaps Norway's narrowest and most expensive farm road. The five-kilometer road is open to traffic with designated times for descending or ascending. Check the links below for more information.