Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site World Heritage Site

Official name

Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site | UNESCO

Country

Norway | Map

Continent

Europe

Location

N59 52 43 E8 35 37
59.8786° Lat, 8.5936° Lon | Map

Code

1486

Time Zone

Europe/Oslo (CET, +0100)

Current Time

Category

Cultural

Description

Inscribed 2015. Located in a dramatic landscape of mountains, waterfalls and river valleys, the site comprises hydroelectric power plants, transmission lines, factories, transport systems and towns. The complex was established by the Norsk-Hydro Company to manufacture artificial fertilizer from nitrogen in the air. It was built to meet the Western world’s growing demand for agricultural production in the early 20 th century. The company towns of Rjukan and Notodden show workers’ accommodation and social institutions linked by rail and ferry to ports where the fertilizer was loaded. The Rjukan-Notodden site manifests an exceptional combination of industrial assets and themes associated to the natural landscape. It stands out as an example of a new global industry in the early 20 th century.