Lofoten Islands, Norway
The morning found the National Geographic Endeavour dropping anchor in the Lofoten Islands at the old fishing village of Vaeroya. It is comprised of a small collection of houses and fishing huts, many have been abandoned over the years. The Lofoten Wall rises in the background – glacier carved peaks with a layer of clouds obscuring the mountain tops. Our intrepid explorers walked among the ruins and rock walls of the village, exploring the sod covered remains of buildings before striking out for the saddle between North and South Bay. Herring gulls swarmed along the rock walls, where they have begun building their nests.
Upon returning to the ship, we proceeded north to the village of A (Oh). Visiting the Norweigan Fishing Village Museum and the Stockfisk Museum, we learned about the history of cod fishing in the Lofoten Islands as well as history of their boats. We were told how storms affected the lives of fisherman and a bit of lore relating to the Norweigan sea spirits – both good and bad. The boats have been adapted to the rough conditions, further developed from the Viking ships of old.
Our busy day continued with a visit to the somewhat larger village of Reina. The beauty of the harbor is enhanced with the precipitious rise of mountains surrounding much of the village. Viewing the cod fish drying racks along the shore, one could understand how fishing and the history of these northern Norweigan families are tied together. The interaction, the synergy, between Man and Nature is visible wherever you look – the architecture, the boats, the ways of the people. The fishermen’s cabins seem as natural as the shoreline in the role of transition between sea and land - their shape imitating the mountains.
To end the day we enter Trollfjord – a mini-fjord only 300 feet wide and a staggering 1000 feet high. The spectacular waterfalls descend the cliff face while the ship cruises thru the narrow passageway. We paused near the base of the falls while the captain turns the ship to exit the fjord. A truly memorable experience at the end of a truly remarkable day…
The morning found the National Geographic Endeavour dropping anchor in the Lofoten Islands at the old fishing village of Vaeroya. It is comprised of a small collection of houses and fishing huts, many have been abandoned over the years. The Lofoten Wall rises in the background – glacier carved peaks with a layer of clouds obscuring the mountain tops. Our intrepid explorers walked among the ruins and rock walls of the village, exploring the sod covered remains of buildings before striking out for the saddle between North and South Bay. Herring gulls swarmed along the rock walls, where they have begun building their nests.
Upon returning to the ship, we proceeded north to the village of A (Oh). Visiting the Norweigan Fishing Village Museum and the Stockfisk Museum, we learned about the history of cod fishing in the Lofoten Islands as well as history of their boats. We were told how storms affected the lives of fisherman and a bit of lore relating to the Norweigan sea spirits – both good and bad. The boats have been adapted to the rough conditions, further developed from the Viking ships of old.
Our busy day continued with a visit to the somewhat larger village of Reina. The beauty of the harbor is enhanced with the precipitious rise of mountains surrounding much of the village. Viewing the cod fish drying racks along the shore, one could understand how fishing and the history of these northern Norweigan families are tied together. The interaction, the synergy, between Man and Nature is visible wherever you look – the architecture, the boats, the ways of the people. The fishermen’s cabins seem as natural as the shoreline in the role of transition between sea and land - their shape imitating the mountains.
To end the day we enter Trollfjord – a mini-fjord only 300 feet wide and a staggering 1000 feet high. The spectacular waterfalls descend the cliff face while the ship cruises thru the narrow passageway. We paused near the base of the falls while the captain turns the ship to exit the fjord. A truly memorable experience at the end of a truly remarkable day…
