Lægreid
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Now you drive along the river Eio, which flows between Lægreid, as you see on the right side, and Hæreid, which is situated higher up on the left side. The name Lægreid also means the low plateau, while Hæreid means the high plateau. The municipality had about 1000 inhabitants before the power development began, and then the population nearly doubled. During the construction period, there were jobs and money for everyone, and the period is still referred to as "Klondyke in Eidfjord." At the same time, the municipality took the step from being a poor municipality to becoming one of Norway's wealthiest municipalities in terms of population. While not all villages welcomed the influx of construction workers and the disruptions that came with a prolonged building period, Eidfjord largely embraced the development with enthusiasm. There was close cooperation with municipal and county authorities, leading to the establishment of permanent infrastructure for essential services such as housing, offices, warehouses, and factories, which could be integrated into the local community after construction. Additionally, investments were made in a community center featuring a swimming pool. The development also included the construction of roads up to Kjeåsen and Osafjellet in Ulvik. Even after the construction phase, these roads remain heavily utilized by both local residents and tourists. A large intervention like the power development, of course, left its mark on the environment. And Statkraft did its utmost to restore the landscape where possible.