| Gaustatoppen | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 1,883 m (6,178 ft) |
| Prominence | 950 m (3,117 ft) [1] |
| Listing | 8 at List of highest points of Norwegian counties |
| Location | |
| Location | Tinn, Telemark, Norway |
| Topo map | 1614 IV Rjukan |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1810 by Jens Esmark |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Gaustatoppen is the highest mountain in the county Telemark in Norway. The view from the summit is impressive, as one can see an area of approximately 60,000 km², one sixth of Norways mainland. There is an elevator system inside the mountain, built for military purposes, that lately has become accessible to the public. This ascends from the base of the mountain almost to the summit. The mountain is popular for downhill skiing in winter, and competitions have been held on its slopes. These competitions include the "Norseman triathlon", 'Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, billed as "the world's most brutal iron-distance triathlon. It starts in Eidfjord and finishes at the top of Gaustatoppen." The summit is relatively easily accessible on foot in the summer, on a rocky pathway, although the southern side of the mountain is very dangerous and inaccessible. The wreckage of an airplane crash lies there, as it is too difficult to remove it.
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The first element is Gausta, the name of the whole mountain, the last element is the finite form of topp m 'top, summit'. The name Gausta is probably a shortened form for *Gaustafjell (Gausta mountain), because Gausta originally was the name of a farm beneath the mountain. (For the same development se Dovre.) The Old Norse form of the name was maybe *Gautstöð, the name is then a compound of gaut f 'flooded place', and stöð f 'stead, landing place for boat'. (The farm lies at Rjukan river.)