Snorkeling

The lake at Lygnstøylvatnet sits in Norangsdalen, just above Union Øye — and it holds a remarkable secret. In 1908, a landslide blocked the river and slowly submerged the old summer farm of Lygnstøylsetra. Today, beneath the surface, the birch trunks of the old forest still stand, the ruins of the old road wind through the depths, and small bridges wait to be swum under.

In the right conditions the water is crystal clear, and the visibility is extraordinary. It is also cold – this is snowmelt – but we come well prepared with thick wetsuits.