Dollerup Hills

Dollerup Bakker, located by Hald Sø, is one of the Viborg region's and Denmark's most remarkable natural areas. This magnificent landscape offers unique flora and fauna, a fascinating history and a pristine and pure atmosphere. Besides enjoying the breathtaking beauty, visitors can also enjoy the opportunities for swimming and angling. The area is equipped with many marked nature trails and information boards, and in Laden ved Hald Hovedgård you can explore an exciting landscape exhibition. With its 1,600 hectares under nature conservation, Dollerup Bakker is a paradise for nature lovers.

The landscape and its geological formation are phenomenal and differ dramatically from the typical Danish terrain. The Hald Sø area is often referred to as the "butter in Denmark's ice age geology" because of its historical importance during the last Ice Age. This area was the meeting point for glacial flows from Norway and the Baltic Sea area. The largest glacier gate, where meltwater, gravel and sand flowed out, formed the flat moorland that we see today.

The height differences in the area are remarkable. The lake reaches a depth of up to 31 metres, while the terrain south of the lake, at Skelhøje, rises to over 80 meters above sea level. To the south and east, the lake is surrounded by steep cliffs that add an extra dimension to the landscape.

The Hald Sø valley, which is covered by Hald Sø today, is believed to be older than the last ice age. Many geologists believe that the bottom of the valley was once filled with a massive lump of ice called "dead ice" that was 20-30 meters high. During the last ice age, the meltwater flowed over this lump of ice and deposited material on its surface. When the lump of ice later melted, a hole was formed, which was filled with water and became the present lake.

The surroundings around Hald Sø have been designated as a "National Geological Interest Area" and are of international importance. This reflects the unique and impressive geological character of the area.

Because of the rich natural values, the Hald Sø area has been protected. The original conservation from 1942 was modernized and expanded to 1,600 hectares in 2002. The purpose of the conservation is to preserve the area as a coherent unit and ensure public access to the valuable.