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The Senja Troll and its wife

The Senja Troll (Norwegian: Senjatrollet) was a tourist attraction in Finnsæter on the island of Senja in northern Norway. The largest troll statue in the world, it was the centerpiece of a family park associated with the Hulderheimen cultural center, together known as the Hulder and Troll Park. Beside the troll was a wife, or crone (kjerring); an adventure park and other attractions were housed inside the figure. The structure was destroyed in a fire on March 28, 2019.

History and facilities

The Hulderheimen cultural center in Finnsæter opened in 1989, named for a legend about a local mountain, the Hulderberg.[1] The Senja Troll attraction opened nearby on June 1, 1993;[2] it was built by Leif Rubach, who ran the attraction with his wife, Siw, dressed as a troll including fake troll feet, and called himself the “troll father”.[1][3][4] He was inspired by a local legend of a troll who appeared both on the island and in the sea nearby. The troll was made of injection-molded concrete, polyester, and plastic,[4] was 17.96 metres (58.9 ft) high, and weighed 125,000 kilograms (123 long tons; 138 short tons); in 1997 Guinness World Records listed it as the world’s largest troll.[3] In 2007, after years of rivalry, the Hunderfossen Familiepark in Gudbrandsdalen conceded that their troll was not as tall.[2]

Inside the troll was a two-story adventure park.[3][5] In 2017, Rubach was planning to renovate this to add a section for fall and winter activities.[6] There was also a miniature train, the “Sesam-train”.[3]

In 2007 a wife, or crone, was lowered beside the troll by crane;[7] their union was blessed by a priest with two NRK program hosts serving jointly as best man,[3] and in 2012 they had sextuplets, which were baptized.[8]

On March 28, 2019, the Senja Troll caught fire and was destroyed within a few minutes.[9] The cause of the fire was believed to be an old fan heater that exploded.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Ronny Trælvik, “Den glade galskapen”, opinion, Troms Folkeblad, July 12, 2013 (in Norwegian).
  2. ^ a b ANB–NTB, “Senja vant trollkrangelen”, February 14, 2007 (in Norwegian).
  3. ^ a b c d e “Senjatrollet, Hulder-og Trollparken at Finnsæter i Berg”, Visit Senja, retrieved July 4, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Geir Svardal, “Den vakre bobiløya”, Motor, Klikk.no, March 18, 2017 (in Norwegian).
  5. ^ Linn Hanssen, “Familieparker i Nord-Norge”, Foreldre, Klikk.no, July 5, 2010, updated July 3, 2017 (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Susanne Noreng, “Her spiller ‘trollfar’ Leif mens pianoet står i full fyr”, Troms Folkeblad, May 16, 2017 (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ Jan Riise Pedersen, “Senjatrollet har fått seg kjerring”, NRK, April 26, 2007 (in Norwegian).
  8. ^ Tord Olander Pedersen, “Her døpes trollungene”, Nordlys, July 1, 2012 (in Norwegian).
  9. ^ “Turistattraksjonen ‘Senjatrollet’ er nedbrent: – En tragedie”, NRK, March 28, 2019 (in Norwegian).
  10. ^ “Leif Rubach så livsverket sitt gå opp i røyk: – Helt forferdelig”, ABC Nyheter, June 28, 2019, updated October 26, 2022 (in Norwegian).

69°24′35″N 17°15′48″E / 69.409786°N 17.263438°E / 69.409786; 17.263438