The Troll Bridge in Portland, Under Which Scary Fairytale Giants Have Transformed (22 photos + 1 video)

A multitude of trolls live under this wooden railroad bridge in Portland.





It's unclear exactly why trolls began appearing under the Portland bridge. Perhaps it was forced migration or simply a search for a better life? Or perhaps locals are trying their best to maintain Portland's status as a quaint city.



Trolls were once truly fearsome creatures. Solitary and hostile to humans, they dwelt in the darkest depths of castles, forests, and caves, kidnapping girls and feasting on lost children. But then, in the 1960s, something went wrong.





The gnarled trolls of Norwegian and Scandinavian folklore have been shrunk and cast in plastic, transforming into colorful creatures with lush hair and mischievous smiles. This isn't quite what Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen had in mind when he wrote, "To live is to wage war on the trolls in one's heart and soul."



Travelers often discover these colorful little trolls under an old railroad bridge on the outskirts of Portland. Here, on a series of time-worn wooden beams, you'll see the trolls.



For years, locals have been attaching troll dolls to trees, and some have simply been painted directly onto the beams. The population of this colony of colorful creatures fluctuates constantly, as some less than scrupulous individuals periodically kidnap the unfortunate souls.



Fortunately, the kindhearted inhabitants of the surrounding area replace them with new trolls, keeping this unusual collection alive and alive.