Nordvika

Nordvika is in a lonely spot at the northern end of Lake Femunden. But when the farm was built in the 18th century, the location was central, right between Røros and Femundshyttan. All winter, sleighs loaded with copper ore drove from Røros to Nordvika, where it was stored until the lake was ice-free. When the water was open, the ore was transported on barges to the furnace where the ore was smelted and refined into copper. The copper was then transported back to Nordvika. The site of the reloading area is still visible, since nothing grows on the ground polluted by toxic copper spill.

The long journey with heavy copper rocks resulted from the enormous requirements for wood in the smelters. There was considerably more wood left in the area around Femunden than in the sparsely forested surroundings in Røros. This is why copper and ore was transported backwards and forwards for nearly 100 years.

People, horses and oxen all needed accommodation in Nordvika. When the furnace was finally closed at Femundshyttan, raftsmen and lumberjacks arrived. The stables could take up to 42 horses, and the house could accommodate a lot more people.

Farming took place until 1958, but Nordvika is now used for recreation only. There is a picnic area on the old reloading site.