Preikestolen: Norway's Giant Pulpit

Preikestolen rises 604 metres straight up above Lysefjorden in Norway.

The steep cliff sits on the north side of Lysefjorden.

An almost flat top measuring 25 by 25 metres crowns the rock.

Around 1900 a local tourist group coined the name Prekestolen.

Stavanger lies 25 kilometres away from the famous site.

A 3.8 kilometre trail leads hikers from the parking lot upward.

Nepalese Sherpas improved the path in 2013 to reduce delays.

BASE jumpers often leap from the steep cliff edge.

Authorities chose not to install fences along the steep cliff edge.

Fences might encourage dangerous behavior like climbing onto them.

Glaciers carved the angular shape roughly 10,000 years ago.

Water froze in crevices and broke off large angular blocks.

Geologists confirm the plateau is safe despite a deep crack.

300,000 visitors came in 2024 to stand on the flat rock.