Atlantic Ocean Road & Bergtatt Marble Cave

OVERVIEW

Kristiansund, a city of ca. 23.000 inhabitants, is traditionally associated with fishing and the fish industry. However, these days the economy is mainly based on the petroleum and gas production in the North Sea. The town was totally destroyed during the WW2, but has been rebuilt and appears today as a modern, attractive town built on three islands, connected by bridges. After a short drive through Kristiansund – continue via the: Krifast Road System Opened in 1992 as the first ferry-free mainland connection from Kristiansund. It is a stretch of 25 kilometres – including the 5 kilometres long undersea Freifjord Tunnel, and 7 Bridges – among them the Bergsøysund Pontoon Bridge and the Gjemnessund Suspension Bridge. Proceed on the mainland to Eide where you will visit the old marble and lime quarries of Bergtatt. Upon arrival to Bergtatt you will be met by local guides and equipped with helmets and an inflatable vest. Depending on how many guests join the tour, one group will be exploring the cave first, while the other group will enjoy a film. Inside, the temperature is always 6 degrees Celsius, regardless of the outside temperatures. We will learn about the quarry drift in past and present before boarding wooden rafts that will take us on crystal clear water further into the mountain through beautifully lit tunnels. Surrounded by crystal clear water and 50 million liters of water beneath you. During the tour you will be able to tap your own water directly from the cave walls. The caves are illuminated in different colors and you will take in the very special atmosphere and silence.

After leaving Bergtatt, we will drive to The Atlantic Ocean Road - a scenic 8,3 kilometre long section of County Road 64 which connects the mainland with Averøy Island – through an Archipelago on the coast facing the Atlantic Ocean. It is built on several small islands and skerries – connected by causeways, viaducts and bridges. It was opened in 1989 – and is classified as one of the scenic Norwegian National Tourist Routes. Continue to the The Atlantic Ocean Tunnel - an undersea tunnel opened in 2009 as an extension of the Atlantic Ocean Road between Averøy Island and Kristiansund Town. It is ca. 5735 metres long, reaches a depth of ca. 250 metres below Sea Level and has a maximum of 10 % gradient.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.