Norwegian Museum of Hydropower and Industry
Encyclopedia
The Norwegian Museum of Hydropower and Industry is a cultural history museum
in Tyssedal
and Odda
in Hordaland
county, Norway
. The museum is dedicated to the industrial history of Odda and Tyssedal, and more generally to history related to rivers and water, hydropower
production, electricity, power intensive industry and its society.
A main attraction is the power station Tysso I, drawn by the architect Thorvald Astrup
(1876–1940) and constructed between 1906 and 1918. The station contains machinery and control room equipment from the entire period of operation, 1908–1989. In 2000 Tyssedal power plant – including Tysso I, pipelines, distribution pool and watchman's house at Lilletopp, and intake pool and valve house at Vetlevann – was protected for posterity by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
. During the following years the power plant went through extensive restoration.
Close to the power station Tyssefaldene's old administration building from 1914 today houses the museum's exhibitions, library, archives, photo- and audio collections, as well as an auditorium. Further upstream it is possible to visit the installations at Lilletopp, Vetlevann and the Ringedals Dam
. Three old workmen's houses in Odda and a small former hydrologic research station at the glacier Folgefonna
are also part of the museum.
A via ferrata has been built that allows safe climbing along the very steep pipeline.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Tyssedal
Tyssedal
Tyssedal is a village in Odda municipality in Norway with about 700 inhabitants and is situated 6 km north of Odda center. Tyssedal is located in a charming environment between fjords and mountains, in the fjord arm Sørfjorden and at the edge of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau.Tyssedal is...
and Odda
Odda
is a municipality and town in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Odda was separated from Ullensvang on 1 July 1913 and on 1 January 1964 Røldal was merged with Odda. The town of Odda is the centre of the landscape of Hardanger, located at the end of the Hardangerfjord.In 1927, Erling Johnson,...
in Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. The museum is dedicated to the industrial history of Odda and Tyssedal, and more generally to history related to rivers and water, hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
production, electricity, power intensive industry and its society.
A main attraction is the power station Tysso I, drawn by the architect Thorvald Astrup
Thorvald Astrup
Thorvald Astrup was a Norwegian architect, particularly known for industrial architecture.Born in Oslo , he was educated at Christiania Technical School in 1891-92, and Christiania Fine Art School the following year; he also attended Technische Hochschule Charlottenburg from 1896-97...
(1876–1940) and constructed between 1906 and 1918. The station contains machinery and control room equipment from the entire period of operation, 1908–1989. In 2000 Tyssedal power plant – including Tysso I, pipelines, distribution pool and watchman's house at Lilletopp, and intake pool and valve house at Vetlevann – was protected for posterity by the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
The Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage is a government agency responsible for the management of cultural heritage in Norway. Subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, it manages the Cultural Heritage Act of June 9, 1978....
. During the following years the power plant went through extensive restoration.
Close to the power station Tyssefaldene's old administration building from 1914 today houses the museum's exhibitions, library, archives, photo- and audio collections, as well as an auditorium. Further upstream it is possible to visit the installations at Lilletopp, Vetlevann and the Ringedals Dam
Ringedals Dam
Ringedals Dam is a gravity dam by Ringedalsvatnet at Tyssedal in Odda municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. The dam was built in stages between 1909 and 1918 in connection with the hydroelectric power plant in Tyssedal and the factories in Odda...
. Three old workmen's houses in Odda and a small former hydrologic research station at the glacier Folgefonna
Folgefonna
Folgefonna is a collective term for three plateau glaciers in Hardanger, Norway,* Nordre Folgefonna * Midtre Folgefonna...
are also part of the museum.
A via ferrata has been built that allows safe climbing along the very steep pipeline.