Me-Åkernes

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Me-Åkernes or Midtre Åkernes (literally field in the middle of the headland) is a deserted fjord farm in Sunnylvsfjord (inner branch fjord of the Storfjord) between Stranda and Hellesylt, Norway.^[1] It is located in the West Norwegian Fjords Norwegian World Heritage Sites and has been preserved both for its unique geologic siting and as a representative of typical Norwegian farm culture in the fjord regions.^[2] This geologically unique farm has also been identified as the model for the farmplace appearing in Henrik Ibsen’s play Brand based on the similarity in the description and his visit there on July 16,1862.^{[3] [4]}

Contents 1 Locality and access 2 Buildings and operation 3 Risk of landslide and extinction 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Locality and access

The farm is situated on a ledge about 100 m (328 feet) above sea level located on a steep, avalanche-threatened hillside. Thus the five farm buildings are built against the rock face of a protected overhanging cliff face in the hillside, and the roofs are level with the slope, such that avalanches pass over the buildings without harming them. The only access is from the Storfjorden waters below; access from the ridge above is extremely difficult.^[2]

There are no natural harbour on the shore, just a small, man-made landing place and some remaining stone walls that are remnants of an earlier boat shed. The boats were dragged onto dry land for safekeeping from the seas from the fjord.^[1]

[edit] Buildings and operation

The main house is located where it is least exposed to avalanches. The haybarn and cowshed are added onto opposites of the house, for a total length of 35 meters. Me-Åkernes farm is, except for the unusual adaptation to the terrain and accommodation for danger from avalanches, a typical multi-activity farm representative of the fjord and mountain farms of Sunnmøre county. The farms had to base their economy on agriculture, fishing and hunting.^[2]

Me-Åkernes was originally a single farm, but in 1881 its fields were divided in two halves between two related-couples. The house and farm buildings were shared in common, but each couple maintained their own livestock.^[1]

There could be as many as 12-14 people living simultaneously at the farm. Each family would support livestock of four cattle and 40 sheep by supplementing fodder in the winter season by use of seaweed. The seaweed was treated in warm water, minced and barley flour added. Although recently they grew potatoes and barley, a field area named "Rugåkeren" (the Rye Field) indicates that rye was grown there in earlier times. To thresh the grain they used a manual threshing machine.^[1]

The farm is today private property, but the preservation society "Storfjordens venner" (The Friends of The Great Fjord) have maintained the buildings.^[2]

The last residents farming the land were Anders and Solveig Hanson Ringdal. They moved from the farm 6 December 1958.

[edit] Risk of landslide and extinction

Today the farm is, due to its location by the Åkernesrenna (the Åkernes crevasse), at considerable risk. The Åkernesrenna has in the recent years widened at an accelerating rate, and analyses threaten a coming landslide, estimated at 50 million cubic metres. The landslide will go directly into the fjord, causing a flood wave (landslide induced tsunami) of about thirty meters in height, which will sweep the fjord and devastate the areas adjacent to Sunnylvsfjord and Storfjord.^[5]

[edit] External links

• Åkernesrenna, Giant landslide in Storfjorden — Article (Norwegian) and video
• Giant landslide threatening rural districts (Norwegian).
• World Heritage List

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Ansok, Sakarias (1970). Far etter folk (in Norwegian). Stranda Sogenemnd. ISBN. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} The 2004 Norwegian nomination for World heritage sites
3. ^ Article on Henrik Ibsen’s play Brand (in Norwegian).
4. ^ Description of the parsonage in Ibsen's Brand:

   And here it stands without a fear

   Because the glacier passes here

   Just when the time of leave sprouts comes

   Above the heads like boulder storms

   The parsonage protected stands, like in a cascade cave.

   Translation Eli Sonja Vasset.
5. ^ Åkernesrenna, Giant landslide in Storfjorden — Article (Norwegian) and video

Kitchen interior, as it was when vacated in 1958.

Passage to the barn.

From the rally of Storfjordens Venner in June 2003.

Åkernes, Me-Åkerneset headland, the farm in the lower part to the left in the hillside. The pink line identified the Åkernes crevasse.