Lofoten
Norway | Anno 2024, 2025
Vestfjorden
Vestfjorden
Departure from Bodø, with the Børvasstindan mountain massif in the background
The Vestfjorden separates the Lofoten Islands from the mainland
Lofoten
The Lofoten Islands are an archipelago off the Norwegian coast with a total area of 1,229 km², about half of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
The Lofoten Islands are known for their unique nature with high mountain peaks, sheltered bays and large stretches of untouched land
Reine
Reine, voted Norway's most beautiful village in the late 1970s
Reine
Ramberg
Ramberg, the Lofoten seaside resort
Flakstad – Church (1780)
Nusfjord
Nusfjord is one of the best-preserved fishing villages in Lofoten. From January to March, cod from the Barents Sea come to the Norwegian coast to spawn. Most of them end up in Lofoten. Fishing has always been the main source of income for the local population
The numerous rorbuer, the dark red fishing huts, on the archipelago are testament to this. These were used by fishermen as temporary accommodation during the fishing season. The arrival of larger fishing boats, where fishermen could spend the night aboard their boats, made these huts obsolete. Many rorbuer have now been adapted for tourism
Nowadays, tourism in Lofoten is as important as fishing
In this Trandamperiet (1910), cod liver was processed into cod liver oil. This was a very interesting export product, for both industrial and medicinal use
It was not until the late 1980s that cod liver oil production was discontinued
Black-legged kittiwakes with chicks
Black-legged kittiwake with chick
Black-legged kittiwake
White wagtail with food for its young
Borg
Borg – Church (1986)
In 1981, the remains of what turned out to be the largest Viking longhouse in Scandinavia – 83 meters long – were uncovered in Borg. A faithful replica of the longhouse has been built, which now houses the Lofotr Viking Museum
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Over a thousand years ago, a Viking leader must have ruled from here
Borg – Church |
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Innerpollen on the left, Ytterpollen on the right. A pollen is a fjord with no or a narrow, shallow passage to the sea
Ytterpollen, with the shallow passage to the sea on the right
The presence of skerries – low rocky islands – is a typical feature of the Norwegian coast
Henningsvær
Henningsvær was once the largest fishing village in the Lofoten Islands. It is built entirely on several islands and skerries. Until 1983, it was accessible only by ferry
As early as the 12th century, fish was hung on racks to dry in the cold wind for three months and exported as stockfish
Unlike Nusfjord and Storvågan, Henningsvær was able to maintain itself around 1900 when motorised fishing boats came into use thanks to the availability of quays and jetties
Arctic tern
Storvågan
Storvågan – Lofoten Museum. In the 19th century, this was home to the largest fishing estate in Lofoten.
Landowner's residence (1815). The landowner rented out not only the fishing huts, but also the fishing spots and the racks on which the fish could be dried. He also determined who could fish where and required fishermen to sell their fish to him, allowing him to set the price himself
Fishing hut (1797)
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Fishing hut (1797) – Interior
Fishing hut (1850)
Fishing hut (1850). A fishing hut was shared by eight to twelve men, representing the crew of two ships. Two men shared a bed
In this hut the fishermen ate and slept, but they also removed the entrails of the fish
Drying the fish (simulation) |
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Simple chapel |
Fembøring (1860). This type of boat was used by fishermen to sail the open sea. These open boats were very vulnerable in bad weather, and tragic incidents involving the loss of life occurred regularly
Large motorised fishing boats could not enter the lagoon, which led to the bankruptcy of the landowner in 1901 and the end of Storvågan as a fishing port
Kabelvåg
Kabelvåg – Vågan church, the cathedral of Lofoten (1898)
Kabelvåg – King's Rocks. King Oscar II started it in 1873, and since then his successors Haakon VII, Olaf V, and Harald V have done the same – writing their names on this rock face
Svolvær
Svolvær, the unofficial capital of the Lofoten Islands, has over 4,700 inhabitants
Svolvær – Church (1934)
Cod fishing during the winter months has always been one of the city's main economic pillars
Tourism is also becoming increasingly important here
Blokken
Blokken – Aquaculture in Vesterålen. Salmon is farmed here on an industrial scale
The floating cages, with a depth of thirty meters, hold approximately 100,000 salmon. Legally, the salmon volume may not exceed 2.5% of the water volume. Underwater cameras monitor the salmon's behaviour so that food can be administered computer-controlled.
Norwegian legislation imposes strict requirements on the aquaculture sector. Production must be sustainable and climate-neutral, and must not leave an ecological footprint in the water. The seabed beneath the cages is regularly inspected
Salmon lice pose the biggest threat to salmon farming. These days, salmon lice are controlled with so-called lice lasers
Sortland
Sortlandssundet
Børhella
Børhella – View south towards the island of Langøya
In the past, at the foot of Børra there was a prosperous fishing village with a pier, a shop, salt pans and fishing huts
With the arrival of motorised boats, this came to an end. The fishermen moved to Nordmela and Andenes |
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For the Sami, the Bukkekjerka rock formation at the foot of Børra is a sacred site |
In the cave the Sami used to offer sacrifices to the gods to ensure a successful catch
Børhella – View north towards the Laupen Mountains and the island of Bleiksøya, a bird sanctuary with one of Norway's largest puffin colonies
Kleivodden
Coastal mountains near the fishing village of Bleik
Kleivodden – View of the Laupen Mountains and the island of Bleiksøya
Kleivodden
Andenes
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Oystercatcher
View south from Andenes, the northernmost point of Lofoten
Jaak Palmans
© 2025 | Versie 2025-08-19 14:00