OSLO, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The Hunderfossen Troll Park in Norway is in many ways similar to any other amusement parks, but it is also unique in its own way: it focuses on the Norwegian themes and education elements.
Situated in the mountains north of Lillehammer, a city about 190 kilometers north of Oslo, the Norwegian capital, the park is thronged everyday in summertime with thousands of visitors, mostly children with their parents from near or afar in the Nordic country.
Built over a timespan of nearly 30 years, the camping site-turned amusement park offers a variety of attractions such as a journey into the Norwegian fairy land, in which trolls are often major characters.
Trolls, ugly and slow-witted folklore creatures living in the mountains far away from human habitats, are small in stature. But the troll statue over the entrance to the Ivo Caprino fairytale grotto is 14 meters high. It is actually the biggest troll statue in Norway.
Norwegian children, who have already come to know many characters of Norwegian folk tales, are excited to be in the park, seeing them in visualized art forms -- the statues of main fairy characters in typical settings as well as dance and play performances in front of the Fairytale Palace or in the park's forests.
Askeladden, the youngest of the three brothers in a folk tale, is one of the heros many Norwegian children like most. Being small and weak, Askeladden is quite often looked down upon. But he can succeed where his two elder brothers fail as his strength lies in his cleverness and innovativeness.
Askeladden is always able to find an unconventional way to solve a difficult question and eventually win over a princess and half of the kingdom from the king. The magic Viking ship he has can sail on the sea, run on the land and even fly in the air.
It is fun not only for children but also for adults to have a merry-go-around ride on the King Frog or watch a frogs' band, which is conducted by pressing a set of buttons alternately.
Climbing up a hill and sliding down is fun too. A park guide said that it is a good lesson for children to learn that one needs to make great efforts and show persistence in climbing if he wants to have the pleasure of sliding.
The Hundnerfossen park is not just about fairy tale characters. Parents who want their children to know where a happy life comes from bring their children there for the lesson, which can be learnt through operating the Volvo mini-excavators and having a tractor ride.
In Norway, one might easily spot excavators and other machinery standing idle on construction project sites, but not in the Hunderfossen park, as boys and girls are busy with manoeuvring the six mini-excavators, digging up sand.
The mini-excavators, sponsored by the Swedish company Volvo, have all the main functions an excavator has, being small only in size.
Green John Deres tractors run along the lane, carrying children with their parents, with lessons on food taught during the short ride.
Thor Willy Christiansen, the park's marketing manager, told Xinhua that the tractor is an exact copy of the John Deres 6939 model.
"The whole idea is for the smallest children up to more grown-up children to learn how the food comes from the soil to the breakfast table. They are doing the loop around here, being told a story of what the farmers do to provide them with food they eat in the morning," said Christiansen.
The tractors automatically stop during the ride for the mascot hen, Staale, to give a lesson on agriculture. While in the garage, a film on agriculture is shown to children.
The tractor lane and the copy tractors are provided by Felleskjoepet, the largest agriculture cooperative company which sell agriculture machinery to farmers in Norway.
Growing up in a car society, Norwegian children are familiar with vehicles and traffic signs. They are keen to have a chance to learn how to drive a vehicle themselves.
The Hundnerfossen park has eight vehicle lanes for children of all age groups. Kids are required to take a class on basic traffic rules and get a "driving license" from the instructors before being allowed to drive a vehicle, which can be a Mercedes car or a lorry.
Christiansen said, "Out on this lane they learn how to stop on red light and so on."
The refueling process can be carried out at the mock Shell pump station. Children are encouraged to park the vehicles properly before leaving the driving ground.
Every year, more than 100,000 children come to this park to learn how to safely drive a car, said Chrisitiansen.
The park is going to celebrate its 30th anniversary next year and parents, who had visited the park when they were young, are coming back with their own children, he said.
Over the years, some big companies like Shell and Mercedes have been cooperating with the park. In the process, they build their brand among future consumers.
Christiansen said that Mercedes sells much more cars in the area surrounding the Hunderfossen park than in any other parts of Norway.
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