Situated at the very north tip of Norway and inside the Arctic Circle, there is something very special about being (almost) at the top of the world. Called the northernmost point of Europe, the North Cape (Nordkapp in Norwegian) lies about 1,306 mi from the North Pole, with no dry land between except for the Svalbald archipelago. Home to where the Atlantic and Arctic oceans meet, this is the true land of the midnight sun .
Skarsvag is large, sparsely populated (there are just 60 human year round residents), and a joy to all those who revel in stark, unbridled beauty, Skarsvag also enjoys the auspicious title of being the world’s most northerly fishing village. But, rolling hills, prolific birdlife and arctic fjords aside, Skarsvag is above all famous for its proximity to the North Cape. Found on the island of Magerøya, the most northernmost point of Europe above the arctic circle.
Unfortunately on our visit we were unable to see anything. A think mist restricted visability to about 50 meters, The building itself is a large tourist trap, with little to commend it. There is a massive metal globe where, on a better day, one can gaze out onto the Barents Sea, where the only land between you and the North Pole is the Svalbard archipelago. We did not think much of the North Cape Hall with its exhibitions on the North Cape’s history. Travellers have been visiting since 1664, when Italian priest Francesco Negri arrived, so there are some tales to tell! More intriguingly, a tunnel has been hewn into the rock, leading down to the cliff face, complete with a chape, which Chris liked l.
There were reindeer grazing on the hillside when our zodiac landed in the fishing village of Skarsvag and we stopped enroute at a reindeer camp/shop where its owner was a dentist for 10 and a half months per year.
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tour The North Cape
"Located on the reaches of Magerøya Island where the Norwegian and Barents Seas meet, the cliffs of Nordkapp rise more than 1,000 feet from the sea waters and are topped by a large, flat plateau. Depart the pier and drive 30 minutes to arrive at the North Cape Hall, where there is time to take in its vista of barren tundra. The North Cape Hall has shopping facilities, post office and a chapel, a bar, restaurants and a cinema with a 225-degree wide-screen. Watch an audio-visual presentation of Magerøya and the North Cape, showing the magnitude of the area's breathtaking scenery throughout the four seasons. Adjacent to the cinema there is a Hall of Fame, with models of important events that have taken place at the North Cape Plateau, and Cave of Lights with a terrace offering a nice view of the ocean further north if there were no mist. Make the return drive to the pier, with a photo stop at the Tufjord viewpoint along the way."
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