Holmenkollen

Neighbourhood of Oslo, Norway
The Holmenkollen ski jump is a landmark in Oslo. This is the hill that was demolished in 2008 to make way for a new one in 2010.
Holmenkollen Norway
Holmenkollen Chapel

Holmenkollen (Urban East Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈhɔ̂ɫmn̩ˌkɔɫn̩])[1][2] is a mountain and a neighbourhood in the Vestre Aker borough of Oslo, Norway. It goes up to 500 metres (1,600 ft) above sea level and is well known for its international skiing competitions.

Overview

In addition to being a residential area, the area has been a ski recreation area since the late 19th century, with its famous ski jumping hill, the Holmenkollbakken, hosting competitions since 1892. To the north, the area borders the Marka woodlands area.

The Holmenkoll Line of the Oslo Metro runs through the neighborhood, serving the stations Besserud and Holmenkollen.

The Holmenkollen Chapel was destroyed by arson in August 1992 by black metal artists Varg Vikernes, Bård “Faust” Eithun and Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth, but later rebuilt.[3]

The chapel is a neighbour to the Norwegian Royal Lodge, the residence of the Norwegian royal family during events like Christmas and Holmenkollen Ski Festival.

Climate

Holmenkollen has a humid continental climate transitional with maritime subarctic influenced by its elevated position above the valley consisting of Oslo's downtown. It has cooler weather than the lower elevations, especially in summer and more precipitation both in terms of rain and snow because of orographic lift. Winter temperatures are slightly colder than in lower areas, although the difference is lower that time of the year. Even so, Holmenkollen usually maintains a sizeable snowpack. In spite of the elevation, summer temperatures are comparable to sea level locations on the North Sea both in Norway and Scotland.

Climate data for Tryvannshøgda, 514 m asl (1991-2020 averages; extremes 1950–1978 & since 1998)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 8.0
(46.4)
11.7
(53.1)
17.8
(64.0)
21.0
(69.8)
27.4
(81.3)
28.9
(84.0)
31.0
(87.8)
26.0
(78.8)
23.5
(74.3)
20.2
(68.4)
13.1
(55.6)
8.7
(47.7)
31.0
(87.8)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 5.0
(41.0)
6.3
(43.3)
10.4
(50.7)
14.9
(58.8)
21.2
(70.2)
23.4
(74.1)
25.0
(77.0)
23.1
(73.6)
18.9
(66.0)
12.8
(55.0)
8.7
(47.7)
6.1
(43.0)
26.1
(79.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.4
(27.7)
−1.9
(28.6)
1.7
(35.1)
7.2
(45.0)
12.3
(54.1)
16.3
(61.3)
18.4
(65.1)
16.7
(62.1)
12.6
(54.7)
6.1
(43.0)
1.6
(34.9)
−1.0
(30.2)
7.3
(45.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.4
(24.1)
−4.2
(24.4)
−1.2
(29.8)
3.6
(38.5)
8.3
(46.9)
12.2
(54.0)
14.5
(58.1)
13.5
(56.3)
9.4
(48.9)
3.8
(38.8)
−0.3
(31.5)
−3.0
(26.6)
4.4
(39.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −6.4
(20.5)
−6.4
(20.5)
−4.1
(24.6)
−0.1
(31.8)
4.2
(39.6)
8.1
(46.6)
10.6
(51.1)
10.0
(50.0)
6.4
(43.5)
1.5
(34.7)
−2.2
(28.0)
−4.9
(23.2)
1.4
(34.5)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −12.7
(9.1)
−12.8
(9.0)
−10.2
(13.6)
−4.5
(23.9)
−1.1
(30.0)
3.5
(38.3)
7.2
(45.0)
5.8
(42.4)
2.2
(36.0)
−3.5
(25.7)
−8.3
(17.1)
−10.8
(12.6)
−15.4
(4.3)
Record low °C (°F) −23.6
(−10.5)
−25.4
(−13.7)
−18.1
(−0.6)
−10.4
(13.3)
−4.0
(24.8)
−0.6
(30.9)
2.4
(36.3)
−0.1
(31.8)
−2.0
(28.4)
−8.9
(16.0)
−14.8
(5.4)
−18.1
(−0.6)
−25.4
(−13.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 94.6
(3.72)
78.9
(3.11)
61.8
(2.43)
62.0
(2.44)
90.1
(3.55)
102.3
(4.03)
123.1
(4.85)
151.9
(5.98)
113.8
(4.48)
127.3
(5.01)
130.1
(5.12)
98.4
(3.87)
1,234.3
(48.59)
Source: Norsk Klimaservicesenter[4]

Etymology

The name is a compound of the farm name Holmen and the finite form of kolle m 'hill, rounded mountain top'. The farm name Holmen (Norse Holmin, from originally *Holmvin) is a compound of holmr m 'bedrock' and vin f 'meadow'.

In fiction

Large parts of the plot of Jo Nesbø's mystery novel The Snowman—particularly the book's final climactic scenes—are set in Holmenkollen, both the residential area and the ski jump.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holmenkollen.
  1. ^ Berulfsen, Bjarne (1969). Norsk Uttaleordbok (in Norwegian). Oslo: Aschehoug. p. 138. ISBN 9788257300890.
  2. ^ Vanvik, Arne (1985). Norsk Uttaleordbok: A Norwegian pronouncing dictionary (in Norwegian and English). Oslo: Fonetisk institutt, University of Oslo. p. 131. ISBN 978-8299058414.
  3. ^ Michael Moynihan, Didrik Søderlind: Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground, First Edition, Venice, CA: Feral House 1998, p. 94f.
  4. ^ "Norsk Klimaservicesenter - Observations". Norwegian Meteorological Institute (in Norwegian).
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Oslo/North.

59°58′N 10°40′E / 59.967°N 10.667°E / 59.967; 10.667


  • v
  • t
  • e