‘Preikestolen’ develops cracks in the rock

Preikestolen , Pulpit RockPreikestolen (Pulpit Rock ).Photo : Paul Kleiven / NTB scanpix

Although there are several cracks at Preikestolen in Forsand in Rogaland,there is no reason to be worried that the mountain will suddenly break away.

 

Masters degree student,Katrine Mo from NTNU has worked extensively on analysing the stability of the Preikestolen, and the fractures crossing the mountain plateau 600 meters above Lysefjorden, wrote Stavanger Aftenblad newspaper.With up to 800 visitors at the same time, a sudden snap could have catastrophic consequences.

Anyone who has been a little nervous and noticed the cracks in the mountains can be comforted by the preliminary analysis of Mo’s work, showing that the likelihood that Preikestolen will crash into the abyss is very low. And should that happen, it will probably not happen soon, or without warning, and not with people on the plateau.

‘’There will be visible changes and extensions of the fractures well in advance. Experiences from such events around the world show that there will be warnings,’’ said NTNU professor Reginald L.Hermanns. He is also a section leader in Norway’s Geological Surveys (NGU), which have organised Mo’s master’s degree,together with the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE).

The geologists also have no fear that any collapse would trigger any violent flood-wave, as the volume of Preikestolen is too small.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today