Senja Troll

The Senja Troll (Norwegian: Senjatrollet) was a tourist attraction in Finnsæter on the island of Senja in northern Norway. It was completely destroyed in a fire on March 28, 2019. The largest troll statue in the world, it was the centerpiece of a family park associated with the Hulderheimen cultural center, together known as the Hulder and Troll Park. The troll has been given a wife, or crone (kjerring); inside both figures are an adventure park and other attractions.

The Senja Troll and its wife

History and facilities

The Hulderheimen cultural center in Finnsæter opened in 1989, named for a legend about a local mountain, the Hulderberg.^[1] The Senja Troll attraction opened nearby on June 1, 1993;^[2] it was built by Leif Rubach, who runs the attraction with his wife, Siw, dresses as a troll including fake troll feet, and calls himself the "troll father".^[1][3][4] He was inspired by a local legend of a troll who appeared both on the island and in the sea nearby. The troll is made of injection molded concrete, polyester, and plastic,^[4] was 17.96 metres (58.9 ft) high, and weighed 125,000 kilograms (123 long tons; 138 short tons); in 1997 Guinness World Records listed it as the world's largest troll.^[3] In 2007, after years of rivalry, the Hunderfossen Familiepark in Gudbrandsdalen conceded that their troll was not as tall.^[2]

Inside the troll was a two-story adventure park.^[3][5] Rubach was planning in 2017 to renovate this to add a section for fall and winter activities.^[6] There is also a miniature train, the "Sesam-train".^[3]

In 2007 a wife, or crone, was lowered beside the troll by crane;^[7] their union was blessed by a priest with two NRK program hosts serving jointly as best man,^[3] and in 2012 they had sextuplets, which were baptized.^[8]

On March 28, 2019, the Senja Troll caught fire and burned down within few minutes.^[9]