A picturesque village visited by thousands of tourists everyday and favoured as a backdrop by filmmakers could one day cease to exist.
Set amid magnificent mountains and a beautiful fjord, it is no surprise that Hellesylt has become a popular destination for cruise ships.
It has even featured in the Mission Impossible franchise in an adrenaline packed scene showing Tom Cruise riding a motorbike off a mountaintop and falling through the sky.
But if tourists want to get a glimpse of the charming village, it is best to book travel now rather than later.
According to National Geographic, Hellesylt is at risk of being flooded by one of the ‘tallest tsunamis in history’.
The nearby mountain Åkerneset has a 230-foot split down its front making it ‘one of the most hazardous rock fractures in the world’.
Growing by as much as three and a half inches per year due to erosion, the rock is at risk of collapsing into the fjord below and triggering one of the ‘tallest tsunamis in history’.
Reaching an estimated 338 feet, the massive wave would swallow schools, hospitals and around 10,000 homes in nearby fjord villages, including Hellesylt.
Nestled in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thousands of visitors visit Hellesylt each day
The picturesque village is at risk of being flooded by one of the ‘tallest tsunamis in history’
It is not known when the rockslide-induced tsunami will take place but an early warning system is already in place.
Lasers pointed at Åkernes will detect even the smallest of movements, notifying up to 10,000 residents in nearby fjord villages including Hellesylt when they should evacuate their homes.
A new drainage system that pumps water out of the mountain has also been installed in an attempt to stabilise the cliffside.
Scientists believe that climate change will only increase the rate of erosion on Åkernes as the rock cliff fills up with water from rainfall and melting permafrost.
For now, Hellesylt is still open to travellers who can marvel at its UNESCO-listed fjord landscape.
One TripAdvisor user described it as the ‘absolute highlight of my trip to Norway’.
Popular activities in and around the quaint village include tours of the fjords by boat or kayak.
Many also visit the Hellesyltfossen waterfall – one of the most photographed natural features in the area.
Hellesylt has become a popular stop-off destination for cruise ships
Popular activities in and around the quaint village include tours of the fjords by boat or kayak
The Hellesyltfossen waterfall is one of the most photographed natural features in the area
Another visitor took to TripAdvisor said: ‘We visited Hellesylt on a cruise, and to be honest I can’t really say much about it apart from the fact that it is a stunningly beautiful village, with an impressive waterfall crashing through the centre of it.
‘Paths allow you to view it from above and below, and you can also visit the church.
‘The views speak for themselves, and I would definitely go again!’
For those seeking a more thrilling adventure, Hellesylt’s jagged landscape is the perfect playground for extreme sports including e-biking through the mountains and white water kayaking.
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