**Västernorrland is home to the High Coast** where the earth is literally rising out of the sea at the fastest rate on the planet. This site features steep granite cliffs and deep blue bays that create a dramatic mountain-meets-sea landscape. You can stand on a summit and look down at an archipelago that was once deep underwater. The views from the top of Skuleberget are among the most famous in the country. The history of the region is etched into the stone and built into the red fishing villages that dot the coast. **You can explore ancient rock carvings at Nämforsen or visit 350-year-old harbors where the tradition of fermented herring began**. The land is rugged but the people have found a way to create beauty everywhere from **the Art Valley sculptures** to world-class whiskey distilleries. It is a place of extremes where the vertical landscape offers a new perspective at every turn. **Your route will take you over the massive High Coast Bridge** and along narrow paths that lead to secret forest cabins. The contrast between the rocky heights and the calm sheltered coves is stunning. It is a perfect destination for active travelers who want to hike the trails and then relax with a view of the Baltic. The energy of the rising land is palpable making every mile of the drive feel like an adventure.

Västernorrland highlights

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Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Västernorrland

**The history of Västernorrland is a story of the earth moving**. Since the last Ice Age ended 10,000 years ago, the land here has risen nearly 300 meters, the highest post glacial rebound in the world. T**his created the High Coast**, where Bronze Age hunters built stone burial cairns on peaks that were then at sea level but are now hundreds of meters high. **Ancient rock carvings at Nämforsen**, dating back to 4000 BC, show that this has been a spiritual center for moose hunters for six millennia. In the mid-1800s, the region became the "Sawmill Coast." **The mouth of the Ångermanälven river** was lined with hundreds of steam-powered sawmills, making it the most industrialized area in Sweden at the time. This era led to the famous Ådalen riots of 1931, a massive labor strike where the military opened fire on protesters, an event that forever changed Swedish politics and labor laws. It was a time of huge wealth for the "Timber Barons" and intense struggle for the workers. **A road trip here follows the dramatic vertical landscape**. You can visit the 17th-century fishing harbor of Ulvön, where the tradition of surströmming (fermented herring) was perfected as a way for sailors to preserve food with very little salt. The roads cross the massive High Coast Bridge, a modern engineering marvel that spans the deep fjord. From the ancient rock art of the first hunters to the industrial ruins of the timber boom, Västernorrland is a monument to a landscape that never stands still.

Västernorrland