randkammen

Randkammen is a term used in Nordic languages to describe a crest or ridge at the edge of a landscape, and is used in geography, linguistics, and onomastics. The word combines rand (edge, rim) with kamm (ridge, crest).

In geomorphology, randkammen denotes a narrow, knife-edged ridge formed by differential erosion along the boundary of a plateau, valley, or glaciated area. The feature typically has a steep profile and may appear crenulated or serrated when viewed from a distance. Formation processes involve glacial erosion, frost wedging, and weathering, with ridges following lines of weakness in bedrock or resistant cap rock.

Toponymy and cultural usage: Randkammen occurs as a descriptive component in place names in Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, signaling a ridge feature near settlements or mountains. It is also found as a surname in Scandinavian records; instances are rare and generally localized.

See also: rand, kamm, ridge, geomorphology.