Maelstrom sails into Norway
The Norse god Odin beacons you to explore the myths, mysteries, and modern-day marvels of Norway on Maelstrom — a high-seas adventure that opened for short days after its host pavilion in 1988.
Originally titled “Sea Venture” and only changed a few months before opening to Maelstrom, this unique boat ride through Norwegian culture begins in a 10th-century Viking village before entering a menacing marsh filled with trolls cursing who banish us backward down the falls with a fleeting glimpse a Valhalla and experiencing the natural wonders and animals of the frozen land of the midnight sun that eventually leads to a waterfall outside of the attraction where we are sent plummeting down the Geirangerfjord and into the stormy North Sea featuring towering oil rigs abruptly culminating in a quaint South Coast village, were we adventurers disembark to watch a thrilling short film “The Spirit of Norway”.
Joe Rohde’s original concept for the attraction’s load mural
One of the more intriguing aspects of Maelstrom is the repeated appearance of the lake troll Nøkken which was inspired by what Joe Rohde described as a "very creepy" painting by Theodor Kittelsen done in 1904 (seen first below). Nøkken stalks us first on the load mural, then along with the three-headed troll and finally just before dropping down the Geirangerfjord.
