Editing Preikestolen (section)

==Access==
[[File:Preikestolen Map.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Trail map and profile]]
[[File:Norway Preikestolen.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Preikestolen]]
Preikestolen is located in the southern part of the [[Ryfylke]] district in [[Rogaland]] county in [[Western Norway]]. The city of [[Stavanger]], the fourth largest in Norway, with a number of direct flights to/from European cities, is located {{convert|25|km}} from the site. The parking facility for Preikestolen is located, thanks to the April 2020 opening of underwater tunnel Ryfylketunnelen, about 40 minutes from Stavanger by car.

Access to Preikestolen from Stavanger is via the [[Norwegian National Road 13]] (Rv13). From the south, it is possible to drive to the Preikestolen parking facility via the ferry from Lauvvika to [[Oanes]]. Ferries run year-round, but have limited hours, so plan ahead if opting for ferry over tunnel.

The road to the site ends in the municipality of [[Strand, Norway|Strand]], just south of the town of [[Jørpeland]] at a parking facility at the Preikestolen Fjellstue, with a [[trail]] extending from the parking facility to the site. A round-trip hike to Preikestolen from the closest car park takes about 3–4 hours for someone of average fitness.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karlsen |first=Gard |date=May 2003 |title=Trip to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) |url=http://gardkarlsen.com/preikestolen.htm |access-date=2008-08-18}}</ref>

The walk to Preikestolen is very steep in places. The path starts at the Preikestolhytta, at an elevation of approximately {{convert|270|m}} [[AMSL|above sea level]], and climbs to {{convert|604|m}}. The walk takes 2–3 hours depending on traffic along the trail, experience, and fitness level.  Even though the elevation differential is only {{convert|334|m}} and the walk is not particularly long, about {{convert|3.8|km}} each way, the total elevation gain and loss over the course of the hike is more than one might initially expect, as the path climbs and descends various ridges. The walk is more difficult in winter and spring when there is snow and ice. Due to snow, it is not always possible to do the hike to the top in the winter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top Hikes: The Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) |url=http://nextstopnorway.com/the-pulpit-rock/ |website=NextStopNorway}}</ref>

Alternative access is available via a path from Bratteli – a stop for the tourist ferry from {{Interlanguage link|Lauvvik|nl}} to [[Lysebotn]] that passes beneath the Pulpit Rock. This walk is more demanding, and takes 4–5 hours each way.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bli med på tur til fantastiske Preikestolen! |url=https://no.fjordnorway.com/topp-attraksjoner/preikestolen/vandretur |website=fjordnorway.com}}</ref>

An alternative is to sail through the [[Lysefjorden]], with trips running year-round. Outside of summer, the weather may be wet and cold, and clouds may obstruct views of the cliff.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} The ship stops at several small docks on the way in and out, including a layover at the end of the Lysefjorden at the village of [[Lysebotn]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rogaland - Norled |url=http://www.norled.no/Default.aspx?pageid=1182 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311035756/http://www.norled.no/Default.aspx?pageid=1182 |archive-date=2015-03-11 |access-date=2013-11-24 |website=norled.no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lysefjordsightseeing |url=http://www.rodne.no/no/sightseeing-2/lysefjordsightseeing/ |website=Rødne Fjord Cruise}}</ref>

===Improvement project===
In early April 2013, a project started to improve the path up to Preikestolen as the old one was so small that it often caused "delays", and at some points on the path it was sometimes impossible to get through. By 2016 the path was completed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stibyggjaren.no/referanser.htm|title = Referanser}}</ref>

In 2019 a new project started to further improve paths, new website and improvement of signs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/i/wE7nP5/ruster-preikestolen-opp-for-35-millioner|title = Ruster Preikestolen opp for 3,5 millioner| date=11 March 2019 }}</ref>
[[File:Preikestolen topdown.jpg|thumb|Top view of Preikestolen]]

===Safety===
The authorities have opted not to install fencing or other safety devices as they felt it would detract from the site and the fact that fatalities at the site are extremely rare, despite having hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.<ref name="oct2013">{{Cite news |last1=Knutsen |first1=Håvard T. |last2=Stenberg, Inger Johanne |date=9 October 2013 |title=– Vi har alltid fryktet at dette kunne skje |language=Norwegian |publisher=NRK |url=http://www.nrk.no/rogaland/har-fryktet-fall-fra-preikestolen-1.11288826 |access-date=10 October 2013}}</ref> Furthermore, there were concerns that fences or other devices might encourage dangerous behavior such as climbing onto the fences. [[Norway|Norwegian]] authorities have stated that "we cannot fence in all nature in this country".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kagda |first1=Sakina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rVZmDwAAQBAJ |title=Norway |last2=Cooke |first2=Barbara |last3=Nevins |first3=Debbie |date=July 2016 |publisher=Cavendish Square Publishing LLC |edition=Third |location=New York, NY |pages=11 |isbn=9781502618498 |access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref>

According to local press the first accidental death occurred in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Norway's Preikestolen closed to visitors after fatality |url=https://www.thelocal.no/20200722/norways-preikestolen-closed-to-visitors-after-fatality/ |website=The Local - Norway's News in English|date=22 July 2020 }}</ref> There have been incidents of suicide and attempted suicide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inngikk dødspakt |url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=5586471 |website=VG| date=23 February 2000 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ville hoppe fra Prekestolen |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2004/10/26/412475.html |website=dagbladet.no|date=26 October 2004 }}</ref>