Nieidagorži // Pikefossen waterfall

Pikefossen waterfall

Pikkefossen waterfall, also called Nieidagorži in Northern Sami, is definitely something to see in Guovdageaidnu! The waterfall is in the Kautokeino river in Kautokeino municipality in Troms and Finnmark. It is 8 meters high and is approx. 18 kilometers south of Masi. There is a good view of the waterfall from a rest area at Europavei 45.

Fun facts!
In the Sami reindeer herding area, the majority of the names of the areas are in Sami, the Sami names are based on the land, legends, events or general descriptions of the area. According to the legend of Nieidagorži, the name comes from a servant girl who was supposed to look after a herd of reindeer. In a storm the herd would cross the river on the bad ice just above the waterfall. The girl was unable to stop the reindeer, the ice broke and the whole herd drowned. When the reindeer owner came and heard this, he was so angry that he put the girl in a barrel and threw her into the waterfall. But against all odds she survived and the barrel floated with the river all the way down to Altafjorden where she was found.