Hjerkinn

Hjerkinn
Village
Hjerkinn

Location in Oppland

Coordinates: 62°13′23″N 009°33′01″E / 62.22306°N 9.55028°E / 62.22306; 9.55028Coordinates: 62°13′23″N 009°33′01″E / 62.22306°N 9.55028°E / 62.22306; 9.55028
Country  NOR
Region Northern Norway
County Oppland
District Øst-Oppland
Municipality Dovre
Elevation[1] 1,020 m (3,350 ft)
Time zone CET (UTC+01:00)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+02:00)

Hjerkinn is a village in the municipality of Dovre, in the Oppland county in Norway. It is one of the driest places in the country, with only 222 millimetres (8.7 in) annual precipitation.[2]

The railway station Hjerkinn Station is located on Dovrebanen, at 1,017 metres (3,337 ft) above mean sea level.[3] The highway E6 also passes through the village. It is also served by a small airport. Until 1993 there was mining by Folldal Gruver. The Norwegian military has a camp at Hjerkinn.

The name

The Old Norse form of the name was Hjarðkinn. The first element is probably the stem form of hjǫrðr m 'herd, flock of cattle or sheep', the last element is kinn n 'steep mountainside'. The village of Hjerkinn is lying beneath steep mountainsides, and since this place was an important crossroads with roads to Oppdal and Folldal herds were often driven over here.

References

  1. ↑ "Sira" (in Norwegian). yr.no. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
  2. ↑ Norges Statsbaner. "32518" (PDF).
  3. ↑ Jernbaneverket. "Hjerkinn" (in Norwegian).
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