The Senja Troll (Norwegian: Senjatrollet) was a tourist attraction in Finnsæter on the island of Senja in northern Norway. It was completely destroyed in a fire on March 28, 2019. The largest troll statue in the world, it was the centerpiece of a family park associated with the Hulderheimen cultural center, together known as the Hulder and Troll Park. The troll has been given a wife, or crone (kjerring); inside both figures are an adventure park and other attractions.
History and facilities
editThe Hulderheimen cultural center in Finnsæter opened in 1989, named for a legend about a local mountain, the Hulderberg.[1] The Senja Troll attraction opened nearby on June 1, 1993;[2] it was built by Leif Rubach, who runs the attraction with his wife, Siw, dresses as a troll including fake troll feet, and calls himself the "troll father".[1][3][4] He was inspired by a local legend of a troll who appeared both on the island and in the sea nearby. The troll is made of injection molded concrete, polyester, and plastic,[4] was 17.96 metres (58.9 ft) high, and weighed 125,000 kilograms (123 long tons; 138 short tons); in 1997 Guinness World Records listed it as the world's largest troll.[3] In 2007, after years of rivalry, the Hunderfossen Familiepark in Gudbrandsdalen conceded that their troll was not as tall.[2]
Inside the troll was a two-story adventure park.[3][5] Rubach was planning in 2017 to renovate this to add a section for fall and winter activities.[6] There is also a miniature train, the "Sesam-train".[3]
In 2007 a wife, or crone, was lowered beside the troll by crane;[7] their union was blessed by a priest with two NRK program hosts serving jointly as best man,[3] and in 2012 they had sextuplets, which were baptized.[8]
On March 28, 2019, the Senja Troll caught fire and burned down within few minutes.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b Ronny Trælvik, "Den glade galskapen", opinion, Troms Folkeblad, July 12, 2013 (in Norwegian).
- ^ a b ANB-NTB, "Senja vant trollkrangelen", February 14, 2007 (in Norwegian).
- ^ a b c d e "Senjatrollet, Hulder-og Trollparken at Finnsæter i Berg", Visit Senja, retrieved July 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Geir Svardal, "Den vakre bobiløya", Motor, Klikk.no, March 18, 2017 (in Norwegian).
- ^ Linn Hanssen, "Familieparker i Nord-Norge", Foreldre, Klikk.no, July 5, 2010, updated July 3, 2017 (in Norwegian).
- ^ Susanne Noreng, "Her spiller 'trollfar' Leif mens pianoet står i full fyr", Troms Folkeblad, May 16, 2017 (in Norwegian).
- ^ Jan Riise Pedersen, "Senjatrollet har fått seg kjerring", NRK, April 26, 2007 (in Norwegian).
- ^ Tord Olander Pedersen, "Her døpes trollungene", Nordlys, July 1, 2012 (in Norwegian).
- ^ [1], NRK, March 28, 2019 (in Norwegian).
External links
edit
Media related to Senja Troll at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
(in Bokmål) - "Official website".
