Audiotour Water's Power Changed Norway

Welcome to a journey through one of Norway's most decisive industrial eras. As you wander among the buildings at the historic smelting plant site in Odda, you will discover an industrial adventure that laid the foundation for modern Norway.

A hundred years ago, Sam Eyde and Kristian Birkeland transformed Norway's waterfalls into industrial capital. What began with the Tyssedal power station in 1906 and the establishment of carbide and cyanamide production in 1908 would become the starting point for a national transformation.

This tour invites you to experience the buildings that together formed a complete production line - from the power station and quay to the laboratory and specialized factories. Each building tells its own story of innovation, hard work, and visionary thinking.

By studying how hydropower lifted Norway from poverty to prosperity, we gain a window into a crucial epoch in our history. The industrial area that now stands as cultural heritage was once the heart of a production that changed both Norway and global food production. The story of Odda is not just a look back, but a testimony to humanity's ability to create comprehensive societal changes through technology and collaboration.

The project is supported by Sparebankstiftelsen Vestland, Ullensvang Municipality, Boliden Industries, and StoryPhone. Academic resources include Kraftmuseet, Jaggen, Randi Bårdstveit, Terje Kolbotn, and Claude 3.7. Digital producer and cultural educator Lage Thune Myrberget has led the entire project and completed all production.