Photo. The Stoneage settlement Heller, Helleren, in Moss. © Travel Explorations.
Heller, Helleren, Moss, in Norway, is a mysterious place near Gjerrebogen, was first explored by Erling Johansen in 1943. He found several traces after a dwelling one meter below the ground. The finds indicate that is have lived people here in the early Stone Age 4000-1800 years before Christ.
Ever since Stone Age people settled in the area 4-5,000 years ago, the watercourse has served as both a channel and a breadbasket.
Relics of Stone Age settlements and cairns can still be found around Lake Vansjø. There is also found remains of local defensive structures from migration times that took place approximately 1,500 years ago.
One such fortress was built on a little islet in the middle of the big lake. Finds here include animal bones and cooking stones - stones that were heated on the fire and laid in pans to heat their contents. The pans, which were made of hide and possibly also of wood, could not be placed on the fire. Stone Age man lived mainly by hunting and fishing.
With a shoreline in excess of 200 km and a surface area of 46.5 km2, Lake Vansjø is one of the largest lakes in Norway. The Vansjø landscape is full of fjords, islands, islets and sounds, suitable for recreation and nature adventures. Lake Vansjø has more than 50 islands who a lot of exciting opportunities.
Stein Morten Lund, 23 May 2010
Additional information
The Moss region in Norway is for genuine adventurers. It has a beautiful countryside, the ydillic peninsula of Jeløya, wooden hills and dense pristine forests. Moss offers an abundance of trails and paths, but most exciting is venture out on the off beaten tracks. There you can discover Viking heritage and other historical sites.
The coastal trail through Moss has links to the Lake Vansjø trail near Mossefossen. Here you can walk through a beautiful lake landscape, an urban environment, woodlands and a cultural landscape. In a Norwegian travel magazine, the Moss region was selected to offer the best trails for biking in Norway.
An abundance of bird life can be observed at Vansjø. Swans, grey herons, many different types of duck and a few rare wading birds, as well as ospreys, can be found here. A number of nature reserves have been set up to protect the abundant bird life.
In the lake there are 16 types of fish; perch, zander, pike and eel are the most plentiful. The best way to experience the diversity and beauty of nature on Lake Vansjø is by boat. The lake is particularly suitable for canoeing and kayaking.
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