Norway's first salmon studio

At the Salmon Studio at Sandsfossen falls, visitors can peek through two large windows into the river itself as the powerful salmon make their way upstream to spawn. You may even spot one of the really big salmon, which weigh over 10 kg, leaping up the waterfall! A visit to the salmon studio is an adventure for both young and old.

The river of Suldalslågen is 22 km long but has a fall of just 68 metres. It has the most water flow of any river in western Norway. The sources of the river are Valldalsvatnet, Røldalsvatnet and other lakes on the southern part of the Hardangervidda plateau. The Ulla-Førre hydropower development has considerably expanded the catchment area of the Suldal river system. A fish ladder was built at its lowest point in 1987, one year before the Salmon Studio, to make the annual salmon migration easier up the Sandsfossen waterfall.

Most of the salmon seen in the Salmon Studio are smaller than 8 kg, but you may be lucky and spot one of the really big fish. Those are the ones that are strong enough to jump up the waterfall. The best time to visit and witness the salmon migration is between mid July and the end of September, which is much later
than for most other salmon rivers. When the salmon start coming up in Suldalslågen, they are already in the midst of their spawning season in other rivers.

In the exhibition in the studio you can learn more about the unique wild salmon, the fights that have been fought along the river for the right to the salmon, the salmon lords from England that settled along the river and how the hydropower developments in the area have affected the fish.

Opening hours

The salmon studio is open in the salmon season from June-September every year. Check out the summer program for Suldal or contact us for the latest update.

Admission

Adults: NOK 40
Children / seniors: NOK 30

Children under 4 years, free

Family discounts

Contact

Suldal Tourist Information

suldal@visitsuldal.no