The landscape of Norway differs drastically from the
flatlands of Finland. It is outlined by spectacular fjords. However, the number
of reindeer outnumbering the number of people in many places above the Arctic
Circle is characteristic for both Finland and Norway. One of those places is
Honningsvag on the island of Mageroya, home to 4,000 people and 5,000 reindeer.
Honningsvag town (two pictures above) and local workshop (three pictures below)
North Cape is the northernmost point of Europe,
located on a sheer cliff, rising 1,000 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. From May
11 to July 31, if the sky is clear, you can see the midnight sun rolling just
above the horizon. For more than 300 years, people have travelled from all over
the world to the North Cape. Many notable figures have made the strenuous
journey: kings and princes, adventures and groups on expeditions – all of them
strongly drawn to the spectacular natural beauty of the North Cape. There are a
number of exhibitions in the North Cape Hall, which give a glimpse of the
history of the region.
The famous Panorama
film guarantees you the midnight sun – no matter what the weather is like.
It takes you through four seasons, showing a countryside filled with contrasts,
changing light and magnificent natural beauty. Cave of Light is a journey through the seasons by way of sound and
light. Here you will also find historical information about developments at the
North Cape since 1533. There are a few monuments outside and its most famous is
the Globe erected in 1977.
Fjord cruise from Honningsvag to Hammerfest (two pictures below) offers
some of Norway’s most beautiful coastal and mountain scenery as you cruise
southwards.
What makes the rock art of Alta so unique is that
they are so varied and include so many different figures. At the four uncovered
fields there are more than 5000 figures. The most common pictures are of
animals, especially reindeer and moose. But there are also other animals such
as bear, birds and fish; often there are objects such as fishing nets, spears
and boats, as well as people in a variety of activities. Many of the figures
display high artistic quality, and are very well preserved. They were made by
people who lived by hunting, gathering and fishing. Most of the figures are relatively
small, between 20 and 40 cm high. Some of them are relatively naturalistic;
others are more geometric and stylized. The large collection of rock carvings
can indicate that there are additional large, ritually important areas at the
end of the Alta fjord. Most likely Alta was a meeting place for people from the
coastal and interior areas. They gathered here to participate in rituals and
ceremonies, to exchange knowledge and experiences and to decide in matters
important to the group, to the individual and to the relationship between the
different groups. The carvings were made in the bedrock with hammer and chisel.
The hammer was made of stone or antler, the chisel was made from hard stone.
The figures were carved into smoothed stones at the shoreline. As the land
level rose, new figures were carved into the bedrock that had newly arisen from
the sea. The parts of the bedrock where the older figures were carved in were
then higher above the sea, and were no longer used for new rock carvings. The
location has most likely been important for communication with the spiritual world.
In the beach area, earth, water and the heavens meet.
The stunning shoreline scenery of Norway continues along Kvaenangenfjord and Lyngenfjord.
