Pulpit Rock: Standing here feels like the end of the world

Imagine standing on a flat rock nearly 1,982 feet (604 metres) above sea level, with no railings or safety barriers around you. In front of you lie endless mountains, and beneath your feet is a blue fjord. Norway's Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock, is precisely such a spine-chilling location, known to travellers worldwide as the 'end of the world'.

For adventure-seeking tourists, reaching the main summit is a significant challenge. It requires crossing approximately eight kilometres of rugged mountain terrain and marshes.

In Norwegian, 'Preikestolen' means 'preacher's pulpit' or 'platform'. Astonishingly, there are no safety barricades on Pulpit Rock or along the paths leading to it. The Norwegian government believes artificial barriers would destroy the pristine beauty of nature. Consequently, visitors can sit right at the edge, dangling their feet over the deep abyss. However, the government has made it clear that any accident during the trip is entirely the traveller's own responsibility.

In 2017, Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise brought Pulpit Rock into the global spotlight when he filmed scenes for 'Mission: Impossible – Fallout' there. During the film's climax, Cruise is seen climbing the steep rock face. Access for regular tourists was banned for a full week to accommodate the shoot.

A deep crack appeared on the rock surface in 1930. While visible and deep, geological studies have shown that the rock is currently stable, with no risk of collapse in the foreseeable future. It is considered completely safe for visitors.

A thrilling local legend surrounds the rock. It is said that when seven brothers from the Stavanger region marry seven sisters, the rock will collapse, causing the fjord below to overflow and create a catastrophic flood.

The air around the rock is so clean and pollution-free that it has sparked a unique business. Entrepreneurs are bottling and selling the mountain air. Each bottle is priced at around Tk 1,500 (115-118 dollars), claimed to be the purest air on Earth, collected directly from the land of clouds.

According to scientists, the Earth is round, so it has no definite end. But standing at the edge of Pulpit Rock, you cannot help but feel that the world might just end right here.

Author: Contributor