As he approaches the North Pole, the Norwegian territory is showing its most abrupt but also the most exotic and fascinating. The landscape is giving way to cold and bare mountains and impressive show, but in return, the midnight sun and northern lights bring us experience impossible to forget. The long distances and sparse population north of the country become an ideal destination to discover the wild nature. Here are some points of great interest in the area, on the way to North Cape.

Photography by Ramon Cahenzli

Vesterålen islands and whales:

The north of the Lofoten islands, are less spectacular landscape level but instead allow for fantastic whale watching excursions. Langøya is an ideal spot to watch the whales, like the island of Andøya, especially in the northernmost population, Andenes, which bills itself as Nordlyskommunen (the town of Aurora Borealis). In Hisnakul og Hvalsenter Center (whales) can learn more about the world of these mammals. At about 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, this area can enjoy the midnight sun between May 19 and July 25, while the sun sets between 25 November and 28 January each year.

In the town of Melbu, wherein linking the ferry from the Lofoten, you can visit the Norsk Fiskerrindustrimuseum, museum dedicated to the fishing industry. Hinnøya, meanwhile, is the largest island in Norway, and in the city of Harstad you can visit the church Trondenes kirke, XIII century walls and military defense, or Adolfkanonen, a grand canyon of war became considered the weapon of the world’s largest land that is kept as a relic of the Nazi presence.

Photography by Jeppe Salvesen

Tromsø, to the North Cape:

Very close and the North Cape, Tromso is a surprisingly lively city for their latitudes. Much of the blame lies with the thousands of college students who live there since 1972, the university opened. Its more than 70,000 people in 2,557 km ² makes it the largest city in Scandinavia polar, and the seventh most populous in Norway. This is mainly due to a milder climate than might be expected in these latitudes (is the same height as Alaska) since the current tiempla Gulf of Mexico coast.

We will not stop visiting the Ishavskatedralen (Arctic Cathedral), modern building that evokes a Sami tent or a glacier, representing the Norwegian nature, culture and faith. Inside is one of Europe’s largest stained glass. Tromsø is also home to the Polar Museum, housed in a building from the early nineteenth century where it makes a detailed review of polar history, with special emphasis on browsers that milestone after milestone, were marking the boundaries of this inhospitable land. To enjoy a good view of the city Storsteinen climb the mountain, located at 415 meters, with the funicular Fjellheisen.

The first city on the road to the north is Nordlysbyen High (City of Northern Lights). With more than 20,000 inhabitants is a relatively quiet and warm city, with less rainfall annually than the Sahara. The High Museum is a key point of the visit, declared World Heritage by UNESCO, includes a valuable collection of paintings of between 2,000 and 6,000 years old, found in Hjemmeluft 1973. It consists of an outdoor area where paints are exposed and partly covered, which explains the details of life in the region. You can go to visit organizing a trip to the Canyon Sausto, the largest in northern Europe.

Photography by GuideGunnar – Arctic Norway

The northernmost point of Europe:

Knivskjelodden is the northernmost point of Europe, but the honor is for Nordkapp tourism, thanks to Nordkapphallen, a resort for access to find out where the monument built in 1978 that the globe has become the symbol of the North Cape Current. This point marks the northernmost point of Europe, representing the final frontier to the Arctic Sea.

Anyway, who wants to get the true northernmost point of the entire Continental Europe should take the path Knivskjelodden (knife twisting), which allows a fantastic view of the North Cape and which, after traveling the 18 miles, then go to northernmost point and give us the right to receive a diploma and register with the effect.

Photography by Maltesen

Bon voyage!