Hovedøya

Hovedøya is a 0.47 km² large island, owned by Oslo municipality. With easy arrival via an 8-minute boat ride from Aker brygge. All of Hovedøya is a landscape conservation area to preserve historic nature, cultural landscapes and geology. Included in the landscape conservation area are also two plant life conservation areas and two nature reserves. These are especially protected because of the species-rich vegetation on calcareous bedrock and interesting geology.

Map conservation area

Due to faults in the area, older rocks have been pushed up and protected younger rocks during the Ice Age. At Vardkampen, rocks from all the formations in the Hamar Group are preserved. North and south of Vardkampen we only find the oldest formation, the Brøttum Formation.

On Vardkampen it is also possible to find remains of defensive fortifications from the Early Iron Age (500 BC. – 550 AD.).