Hjerkinn is a village in the municipality of Dovre in Innlandet county in Norway. The village is located in the Dovrefjell mountains, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northeast of Dombås and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest of the village of Folldal.[2] It is one of the driest places in the country, with only 222 millimetres (8.7 in) annual precipitation in the 10-year period 1905-14.[3]

Hjerkinn
Village
View of the village railway station
View of the village railway station
Hjerkinn is located in Innlandet
Hjerkinn
Hjerkinn
Location of the village
Hjerkinn is located in Norway
Hjerkinn
Hjerkinn
Hjerkinn (Norway)
Coordinates: 62°13′23″N 9°33′02″E / 62.22309°N 9.55042°E / 62.22309; 9.55042
CountryNorway
RegionEastern Norway
CountyInnlandet
DistrictGudbrandsdalen
MunicipalityDovre Municipality
Elevation990 m (3,250 ft)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Post Code
2661 Hjerkinn

The railway station Hjerkinn Station is located on the Dovre Line, at an elevation of 1,017 metres (3,337 ft) above mean sea level.[4] The European route E6 highway also passes through the village. It is also served by a small airport. Until 1993 there was mining in the village by Folldal Gruver. The Norwegian military also has a camp at Hjerkinn. Eystein Church is also located in the village, along the historic pilgrim's route to Nidaros Cathedral.[2]

Climate

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Climate data for Hjerkinn, Hjerkinn II (1012 m, precipitation 2010-, extremes 1891-1914, 2010-)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 6.5
(43.7)
8.1
(46.6)
9.5
(49.1)
15.5
(59.9)
24.4
(75.9)
25.2
(77.4)
25.9
(78.6)
22.9
(73.2)
22.0
(71.6)
18.7
(65.7)
10.8
(51.4)
10.3
(50.5)
25.9
(78.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −6.8
(19.8)
−7.2
(19.0)
−5.2
(22.6)
−1.0
(30.2)
3.6
(38.5)
8.0
(46.4)
10.8
(51.4)
9.7
(49.5)
5.7
(42.3)
0.1
(32.2)
−4.0
(24.8)
−6.4
(20.5)
0.6
(33.1)
Record low °C (°F) −29.1
(−20.4)
−29.1
(−20.4)
−26.5
(−15.7)
−20.1
(−4.2)
−14.1
(6.6)
−5.6
(21.9)
−2.6
(27.3)
−4.1
(24.6)
−7.4
(18.7)
−17.0
(1.4)
−25.5
(−13.9)
−27.7
(−17.9)
−29.1
(−20.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 40
(1.6)
34
(1.3)
39
(1.5)
27
(1.1)
35
(1.4)
51
(2.0)
70
(2.8)
62
(2.4)
36
(1.4)
43
(1.7)
41
(1.6)
38
(1.5)
516
(20.3)
Source: yr.no/Norwegian Meteorological Institute[5]

Name

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The village is named Hjerkinn (Old Norse: Hjarðkinn). The first element is probably the stem form of hjǫrðr which means "herd" or "flock" of cattle or sheep. The last element is kinn which means "steep mountainside". The village of Hjerkinn is lying beneath steep mountainsides, and since this place was an important crossroads with roads to Oppdal and Folldal herds were often driven through this area.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Hjerkinn, Dovre". yr.no. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Thorsnæs, Geir, ed. (8 June 2020). "Hjerkinn". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Dovrebanen" (PDF). Norges Statsbaner. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Hjerkinn stasjon" (in Norwegian). Bane NOR. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  5. ^ "yr.no/met.no".