Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Small statues of Buddha line the path to the top of the mountain.
Mitaki-dera
A view of the Sandiaoling bike tunnel.
Sandiaoling Bike Tunnel
The old ticket house at League Park now houses the Baseball Heritage Museum.
League Park
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Passersby stop to admire the punny offerings of Brooklyn’s only dinosaur bodega.
We Visited the Dino Bodega in (Jurassic) Park Slope
about 15 hours ago
Native Americans have a longstanding, rich, and vibrant culture in Wyoming.
Wyoming’s Sacred Landscapes: A Journey Through Native American History
about 19 hours ago
This strawberry cucumber sorbet tastes like early summer in a scoop.
Salt & Straw Wants You to Create Your Own Ice Cream Flavors
2 days ago
Catch a glimpse of some of the many wildflowers Crested Butte is known for.
Rodeos, Star Parties, and Festivals: Your Guide to Colorado’s Magical Summer Events
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Norway Aurland Aurland Lookout

Aurland Lookout

A thin pane of glass keeps visitors from sliding off this futuristic skywalk.

Aurland, Norway

Added By
anhie
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
http://www.saunders.no/pro_03_01.html  
http://www.saunders.no/pro_03_01.html  
http://www.saunders.no/pro_03_01.html  
http://www.saunders.no/pro_03_01.html  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Aurland Lookout towers nearly 2,000 feet above the scenic landscape of Aurland, Norway.

Designed by architects Todd Saunders and Tommie Wilhelmsen in 2005, the wooden structure juts out over one of the most expansive fjords on Norway's west coast.

The 14-foot-wide wooden platform spans 110 horizontal feet from the treetops before dramatically plunging downwards, giving visitors the illusion of falling into the landscape. Thankfully, a thin pane of glass prevents visitors from slipping off the edge, as well as provides them with a breathtaking view while suspended over the mountainside.

Due to its abrupt "drop," the lookout has earned nicknames such as "ski jump" and "diving board." But offering reassurance, architect Wilhelmsen writes: "It is meant to be scary, but the structure and glass are very safe."

 

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Architectural Oddities Architecture Nature

Community Contributors

Added By

anhie

Edited By

hrnick, aribrown, KayleeDunn22

  • hrnick
  • aribrown
  • KayleeDunn22

Published

April 19, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • Extreme Architecture
Aurland Lookout
5745
Aurland, 5745
Norway
60.908639, 7.212101
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Ægir Brewery

Flåm, Norway

miles away

Flåmsbana (Flåm Railway)

Flåm, Norway

miles away

Laerdal Tunnel

Aurland, Norway

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Aurland

Aurland

Norway

Places 2

Nearby Places

Ægir Brewery

Flåm, Norway

miles away

Flåmsbana (Flåm Railway)

Flåm, Norway

miles away

Laerdal Tunnel

Aurland, Norway

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Aurland

Aurland

Norway

Places 2

Related Places

  • Martorell, Spain

    Pont del Diable

    A gravity-defying "devil's bridge" that has a surprising architectural feature for its stability.

  • Dobbs Ferry, New York

    St. Cabrini Novitiate

    This dilapidated castle-like structure overlooks the Hudson River at one of its widest points and was once home to nuns.

  • Photo from Oct 2001

    San Antonio, Texas

    Kiddie Park

    Established in 1925, Kiddie Park claims to be the oldest amusement park in the U.S. - a cozy little time warp nestled in a shady corner of the modern world.

  • Marquette, Michigan

    The Superior Dome

    As its grandiose name implies, this wooden dome is unsurpassed in size.

  • Docteur Pinel liberating the hysterical women from their chains - Tony Robert Fleury -  1805

    Paris, France

    The Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital

    Pitié-Salpêtrière was the dumping grounds for women who received the dreaded diagnosis of "hysterical."

  • Ithaca, New York

    Six Mile Creek

    In upstate New York, gorgeous waterfalls and a watermill are slowly being reclaimed by nature.

  • Melnik, Bulgaria

    Historic Melnik

    This tiny Bulgarian town offers a stunning location in the mountains and a storied history.

  • A typical SubTropolis building.

    Kansas City, Missouri

    SubTropolis

    The "World's Largest Underground Business Complex," a 55,000,000-square-foot city underneath Missouri.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.