Fans of outdoor activities increasingly go to the coast of the Norwegian Sea. There, where the rocky territory is indented with sandy beaches and fjords. In the mirror surface of transparent lakes and bays, powerful cliffs of the most bizarre shapes are reflected.
A picturesque corner that inspires
Local residents call this corner Lofoten wall. A group of islands, rising directly from the water and almost reaching the clouds, forms a 150-kilometer barrier between the North Sea and the West Fjord - Norway's largest and widest bay. When viewed from the water, the coastline actually resembles a powerful wall, the height of which exceeds 500 meters. Mountainous reliefs covered with frozen glaciers also attract creative people hurrying here for inspiration.
No one knows for sure when the Lofoten Islands were populated, photos of which excite the imagination of foreign travelers. Archaeologists have established that this happened more than ten thousand years ago.
Some facts about the archipelago
The Lofoten archipelago is located in northwestern Norway. An amazing corner of pristine nature is famous for its white beaches, picturesque bays and unforgettable landscapes.
The Lofoten Islands, whose total area is 1227 m 2 , consist of seven large and many small land areas surrounded by water. They are recognized as the oldest rock formation, because their age is approximately three billion years. However, the modern appearance of the lost paradise was formed 10 thousand years ago, after the end of the ice age.
The largest island of the archipelago is Eustvogey with an area of 526 km 2 .
Between Fere and Maskenese is the most famous whirlpool in the world - Malstrom.
There are small fishing villages where about 25 thousand people live.
Residents of a large archipelago divide the islands into two parts. The internal ones are pressed to the West Fjord, and all settlements are located on them, and the external ones, immersed in constant fog, overlook the Norwegian Sea.
Weather on the archipelago
Tourists who dream of visiting the Lofoten Islands are not afraid of the local weather: it is ideal for walking in the fresh air. Despite the fact that they are located beyond the Arctic Circle, the average temperature in winter is about 2 ° C, and in summer - 15 ° C. This is explained by the influence of the Gulf Stream - a warm current that heats the northern earth. Precipitation here is very rare.
However, it is worth considering that the weather changes overnight, and powerful storms test the strength of the wooden houses of local residents, and huge waves crash with noise into dark rocks. It is the Gulf Stream that is responsible for the strongest winds blowing all the heat.
Rorbu - a colorful fishing home
For many centuries, the Lofoten Islands (Norway) have been the fishing kingdom, and its inhabitants live in rorbu - small stilt houses that first appeared in the 12th century. Colorful dark red dwellings are reflected in transparent water, distinguished by bright spots against the background of emerald slopes and gigantic mountains, crowned with snow-white caps. Now fishermen rent their homes to travelers, for which they get pretty good money. It is recommended that you even book them in advance, especially if vacationers plan to come in the summer. Rorbu is a small cottage, inside which there are all amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen and a freezer for fish.
The cost of living in Rorba is NOK 500 per day, and bed linen is paid extra. Most houses are livable year round.
The main fishing of the islanders
A boat is assigned to each dwelling, and guests can go fishing. Lofoten Islands is an amazing corner, where everything smells of the sea and peace.
Local residents have been engaged in industrial fishing for several centuries. Here you can catch huge Arctic cod and dozens of other fish. Tourists prefer to visit the archipelago in the summer, but the main events for the indigenous inhabitants unfold from January to April. It is at this time that cod spawns here: fish is born here, then lives for seven or eight years in the Barents Sea. And only then he returns to his homeland to give life to a new generation, overcoming a path longer than 800 kilometers.
In the 19th century, the authorities of the Lofoten Islands set the time for the beginning of morning fishing and the water borders where cod could be caught. In each settlement, elders were chosen to monitor order. To this day, the waters of the archipelago are divided into several zones, and fishermen on ships are required to remain within the same site. But tourists who want to sit with a fishing rod, have the right to fish wherever they want. Local residents take vacationers to their longboats and take them to the sea, conducting a fascinating tour.
However, not all Lofoten live in fishing. For example, on the island of Westview, they are engaged in agriculture, raising cows and sheep.
Lofoten Islands: how to get there?
There are three ways to get to the archipelago: by water, by plane and by car.
Tourists who choose the last option, get on the highway E10, which begins in Sweden, in the small town of Tere. The road to the islands leads from Narvik, a commune in Norway located in Rumbaxfjord. The city and Lofoten are connected by a modern bridge.
You can also take the air route - the fastest and easiest. Daily from Oslo to Evenes airport, a town in the north-west of the country, flights depart that deliver guests in about two hours. Services are provided by SAS and Norwegian Airlines.
In addition, there are daily flights from the city and the commune in Norway to Bodø. A flight to Lofoten will be only half an hour.
You can get to the fairy corner by water. Every day, in any weather, ferries depart from the harbor of Narvik, and the journey time is 30 minutes. Tourists say that you can come here in any way, but it’s best to leave this way. When the rocky coastal wall gradually dissolves in the milky veil of fog, then every traveler understands what fabulous place he has been to.
What to do on the islands?
In summer, there is a polar day, and the sun does not go beyond the horizon until September, so travelers can even go for a walk through the highlands on special routes even at night. Hiking is chosen by those guests who are not very friendly with sports, because on all the islands there are numerous walking routes of varying difficulty. As vacationers admit, they got an incredible experience. Fans of hiking romance are not sorry to spend the whole day climbing and descending to admire the fantastic views.
On the Lofoten Islands, famous for their amazing nature, they conduct safari on boats or inflatable boats, and vacationers observe the life of marine inhabitants. In the warm season, divers from different parts of the earth rush to Lofoten to enjoy the inimitable beauty of the underwater world. The islands are very popular among climbers, and not only professionals, but also beginners come to conquer the local mountains. And lovers of winter recreation will not be disappointed: ski centers work here.
In addition, the archipelago is a wonderful place to observe the northern lights.
Tourists can take a boat ride next to the famous Maelstrom whirlpool. This is not as dangerous as many people think.
Here you can also visit karst caves, in which cave paintings that appeared in the 5th century are found.
What are tourists talking about?
The picturesque place is loved by tourists, as evidenced by their reviews. Lofoten islands are delightful landscapes that attract thousands of vacationers. Peaked peaks covered with glaciers, soft emerald grass carpets, wooden houses on gray rocks - all this makes an indelible impression.
No wonder they say that the nature of the archipelago is its main attraction. However, the tourists who visited here also note the amazing friendliness of the islanders, whose openness and hospitality are simply amazing.
Discover another Norway
Recently, Lofoten has experienced a real tourist boom, and every year more than 200 thousand guests from different countries visit one of the most beautiful places on our planet. As vacationers admit, in order to understand the lost paradise, one must visit it. In a unique place, several elements collide, waging a real war among themselves. And the hearts of guests of the Arctic region are shaking with horror, then tremble with delight.
It is worth at least once to see with your own eyes a magic corner, having bought a tour to the Lofoten Islands. Its approximate cost for 12 days is 1,500 euros per person (this does not include airfare). A fascinating journey will allow you to discover a completely different Norway, and even nature is different here with more vivid colors than on the mainland.