The total landscapes of Norway are dominated by mountains, forests, open heathlands and grasslands. Only about 3% of the land surface is suited for cultivation or arable farming. The land use patterns of uncultivated areas were therefore of great importance to traditional farming economy, and even today they have impact on present day cultural landscapes. The practice of summer farming has been widespread over most of the country. It implied that the livestock was sent away to remote parts of the farm for most of the growing season. As a majority of the farmers had to keep their animals indoors half “the" year, it was necessary for them to collect as much as possible of the summer production close to their homesteads and secure it for winter fodder. In particular in the fjord districts of Western Norway this was important, as the habitable areas at the bottom of the steep mountainsides along the fjords are very limited.