Isesjø

Isesjø lake is only 6km² large, but has a whopping 25km² shoreline, accounting for its many bends and nooks. There are walking trails around the whole lake, which many locals use frequently – while some of it is private land, the landowners are required by law to keep the trails open for anyone wanting to visit and are not allowed to build on the land (they are allowed to let their livestock roam there, though, so you better watch out for cows, goats and sheep).

The lake is a short 15-minute walk away from the house I grew up in, and my family used to go there for short walks that inevitably ended up at the lake beach where we would always eat hot dogs, and (in winter) drink hot chocolate – both of which we’d brought from home in thermoses. When I was very young, we’d go there for ice skating near the shore if the ice had frozen solid enough – something I’m not sure I’d be as comfortable doing on an open lake today. Recently, a “Friends of Isesjø Lake” group built a wooden lean-to, complete with table and benches covered in sheepskin for a comfortable rest during those long, cold winter walks (and for eating those hot dogs).