Gaustatoppen
Gaustatoppen is a mountain in Telemark county, Norway. The 1,883-metre (6,178 ft) tall mountain is located on the south side of the town of Rjukan. It is the tallest mountain in all of Vestfold og Telemark county. The peak of the mountain lies in Tinn Municipality, but there is a lower plateau that crosses over the municipal border into Hjartdal Municipality.
| Gaustatoppen | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,883 m (6,178 ft) |
| Prominence | 964 m (3,163 ft) |
| Isolation | 96.6 km (60.0 mi) |
| Listing | #8 (Highest points of Norwegian counties) |
| Coordinates | 59°51′15″N 8°38′57″E |
| Geography | |
Gaustatoppen Location of the mountain Gaustatoppen Gaustatoppen (Norway) | |
| Location | Telemark, Norway |
| Topo map | 1614 IV Rjukan |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1810 by Jens Esmark |
| Easiest route | Funicular system inside mountain or hike from a parking place on the southeastern side. |
The view from the summit is impressive, as one can see an area of approximately 60,000 square kilometres (23,000 sq mi), nearly one-sixth of Norway's mainland. The mountain is popular for downhill skiing in the winter, and competitions have been held on its slopes. These competitions include the "Norseman triathlon", billed as "the world's most brutal iron-distance triathlon". It starts in Eidfjord and finishes at the top of Gaustatoppen. The summit is accessible on foot in the summer, on a rocky pathway of medium difficulty, although the southwestern side of the mountain is very dangerous and inaccessible. The wreckage of an airplane crash still lies on that side of the mountain since it is too difficult to remove it.