Preikestolen cliff has become a very famous tourist destination today. Preikestolen also known as the Pulpit rock is a cliff of height about 604 metres above Lysefjorden, opposite the Kjeragplateau, in Forsand, Ryfylke, Norway. The top of the cliff is approximately 25 by 25 metres (82 by 82 feet) square, almost flat. The Pulpit Rock is located in Rogaland, a county in Western Norway. The city of Stavanger, the fourth largest in Norway, is located only 25 kilometers from the site, and the parking facility of the Pulpit Rock is located about one hour from Stavanger by ferry and car.
The cliff was formed during the Ice age, about approximately 10,000 years ago, when the edges of the glacier reached the cliff. The water from the glacier froze in the crevices of the mountain and eventually broke off large, angular blocks, which were later carried away with the glacier. This is the cause of the angular shape of the plateau. Along the plateau itself there continues to be a deep crack. Geologists of the region, however, confirm the safety of the plateau.
What is unique with this place is as the name indicates; this looks like a pulpit when seen from below. The rock itself is like 25 by 25 meters and when you stand on the edge it is 600 meters straight down. And on clear days you get a great view of the Lysefjord. The path leading up to Preikestolen is also very scenic - especially the last part when you start getting the first glimpse of the Lyse fjord.
There was a big debate a few years ago in the local community by the way. Some people suggested that a pier should be constructed in Lysefjord and a lift should be built from the fjord to the Pulpit rock. This would have attracted quite a lot of cruise ships to the Stavanger area but on the other hand it would have spoiled some of the experience.
The cliff overlooks the densely and colorful green valleys of the Rogaland region. The mountains surrounding the cliff reach heights of up to 843 meters. Some of the hilltops have plains which are interspersed with lakes. The nearby mountain Kjerag (which reaches the height of 1,110 meters) is also a very popular hiking destination, and some actually rather go there due to the increasing popularity Preikestolen has gained, which has led to it becoming more crowded in comparison to Kjerag. Although such beauty stands here with us, there are reported suicide attempts from this place. In February 2000, an Austrian woman and a Norwegian man committed a joint suicide by jumping together off the cliff after meeting on the internet and forming a suicide pact. In October 2004, a young German couple were on their way to the cliff to commit suicide but were stopped in time by the Norwegian authorities.
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