While the girls and I are exploring our friendly neighbour Scotland, Sophie’s World is staying at home. This week’s travel photo is from our homebase in the cool river city Drammen (Norway).
The River Harp
The large pedestrian bridge Ypsilon is a Drammen landmark. Next to Ypsilon is the River Harp, a sound sculpture comprising two large silver balls, one on either side of the river. The River Harp creates music through variations in water flow and bridge oscillations.
Ypsilon
That’s the scientific explanation at least. The folkloric version is more dramatic. You see, the River Harp is playing to appease Nøkken, a shape-shifting water spirit. To women, Nøkken appears as a beautiful young man with a violin, enchanting them with sweet music, drawing them ever closer until they fall in and drown.
If you walk along the attractive riverbank promenade, stop and have a listen on one side of the river, then cross Ypsilon and see if the music is different on the opposite bank.
Here’s the River Harp playing for Nøkken:
Any landmarks or interesting features of your hometown? Do share in the comments below!
For more on water, check out Magnificent Monday
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Beautiful story and mesmerizing photos of autumn leaves and sunset.
Italian Notes recently posted..History and heritage around Altamura
Amazing photos
Muza-chan recently posted..A Japanese Song per Day: Faylan – Hishou No Kizu
Love those reflection shots!
I’ve never heard of a river harp before and love the story behind it.
Laurel recently posted..My Favorite Room in the Munich Residenz
Neat story behind the bridge! I love European folklore. I’m also quite taken with the pink skies in the last photo … very pretty!
Cheryl recently posted..Finding Beauty In Your Own Backyard … In My Case, Berlin!
oooohhh, the last picture is just stunning
Denise recently posted..The beach is magical: I’m off to Bali
I love playing with reflections in pictures. These are gorgeous!
Sabrina recently posted..New Mexico Festivals: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
I especially LOVE your last photo and what a great story. I bet you’d have to have a good ear to pick up any differences in sound.
Still discovering Calgary; it seems to have a lot more public art than meets the eye – think buffalo and western themed sculpture. One quiet day I’ll go out with my camera & wander the streets on a mission of discovery.
Leigh recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday: Faces of Ugandan Orphans
Wonderful shots Sophie and I love the folk lore.
Nancie recently posted..Travel Photo Thursday — October 6, 2011 — Choenan World Dance Festival
Love these pictures, both the fall foliage and the sunset. The sound is kind of magical. On a different note, never thought of Scotland and Norway as neighbors – but I suppose you are just right across the North Sea from each other.
@Robert – spitting distance
Nifty. I’ve never seen a Y-shaped pedestrian bridge before but it looks super cool.
Scott – Quirky Travel Guy recently posted..Tshirts and CDs hamper my efforts to eliminate clutter and be minimalist
Absolutely beautiful! I love the photos (I’m missing the autumn here in Singapore) and the story is lovely.
Elizabeth (dimsumdiary) recently posted..Photo Friday: Camping in the Empty Quarter (UAE)
Love the photos – particularly the last one. We spent one day in Oslo two summers ago and loved it – can’t wait to go back and explore more of Norway.
Lisa recently posted..Photo Friday: Alaskan Sled Dogs
That last shot is especially cool.
Stephanie recently posted..Travel Photo Friday: Salzburg, Austria
Beautiful photos! I love the reflection in the artwork–especially the sunset shot.
Michael Figueiredo recently posted..Greetings From… Chinatown, Los Angeles
I love that bottom photo with all the pinks and purples. And Norway is one of my favorite countries in the world–but I haven’t been to Drammen!
Camels & Chocolate recently posted..Comment on Getting Out of Cape Town by Kristin
@Kristin – Not many people have
The photos are amazing!! It is really beautiful. I did not know that before. Thank you:)
Girly recently posted..I bruise easily
Fascinating story! Reminds me of the legend of the Lorelei on the Rhine River in Germany.
Sonja recently posted..Photo Friday: Euro Disney
@ Sonja – It does have similarities, doesn’t it. Only, the genders are reversed.
Sophie, love the photos and story about the River Harp. Thanks for linking to the YouTube video, too. Very cool.
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..Round Rainbow
Errrm, no, no stories as enchanting as this about my home town – but then my home town was a coal mining and cotton spinning area. Love your river story and the sunset photo.
Julia
Turkey’s For Life recently posted..Istanbul – Planning Our Trip
@Julia – Many former industrial towns in the UK – like Ironbridge Gorge, and cotton spinning areas like New Lanark – are so interesting and pretty. I’m curious about your hometown now
This is really, really cool. I’m a big fan of public art pieces, but ones that play music? Waaay better. =)
Technosyncratic recently posted..Photo Essay: Stonehenge
Gorgeous photos. The reflections you captured remind me of visiting the Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Very differently shaped sculpture, but same sort of effect in the photos.
Nicole at Arrows Sent Forth recently posted..Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory in Photos
Looks beautiful! The setting is so pretty, loved the soft hues of the evening pic…
About where I live, Mumbai, there are so many things that stand out here…
The Gateway of India, Sea Link, street food, fashion, the crowd!!
Have a fabulous sunday:)
Arti recently posted..Haridwar – Shopping in the Markets, Where to Eat, Where to Stay
@Arti – So true! Mumbai – and most of India, really – is a veritable feast – in colours, scents, tastes, sounds…
Wow! The pictures are really fantastic!
Sailor recently posted..Mississippi River Cruises Return in Spring
Wow – very nice photos – interesting angle! Congratulations and have fun in any place – home or elsewhere!
Lori recently posted..Postcards – another great idea of a perfect souvenir
WOW those colors are stunning!! We don’t get the fall colors in Vegas, so I’m so envious. And those pinks in that sunset wow. I love the idea of a river harp.
Abby recently posted..Michael Jackson Cirque premiere in Montreal
Why even leave Norway when it has so many intersting and magical things like this one? I am equally as fascinated by this stroy as I am of the lovely fall photos. I wonder if it does produce a different sound on the different sides.
Sherry recently posted..“Another Migrated Blog”
So interesting – beautiful photos!
Andrea recently posted..Fall Fun With the Bears of Bern, Switzerland
Great photos! And I like the fact that you shared the same shot at two different times of day.
The Travel Chica recently posted..Sugar Filled and Deep Fried Treats in Argentina
Beautiful pictures!
Beautiful bridge. Story is interesting, but the pics are fantastic Sophoe.
Enjoy Scotland.
Jim recently posted..YouTube Tuesday: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.
Hi Sofie,
What a joy to see our work on your site.
The images are beautiful.
All the best,
Living Lenses
My pleasure. Your work is such a gorgeous addition to our city!