Lofoten Facts for Kids

Lofoten and Vesterålen

Gimsøystraumen

Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Though lying within the Arctic Circle, Lofoten has one of the world's largest higher temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.

Lofoten is well known for its natural beauty within Norway. Lofoten includes the municipalities of Vågan, Vestvågøy, Flakstad, Moskenes, Værøy and Røst. The main islands, running from north to south, are

Southern tip of Hinnøya.
Southern 60% (approx.) of Austvågøy (526.7 km² in total 68°20′N 14°40′E / 68.333°N 14.667°E / 68.333; 14.667),
Gimsøy (46.4 km² 68°18′N 14°11′E / 68.300°N 14.183°E / 68.300; 14.183),
Vestvågøy (411.1 km² 68°10′N 13°45′E / 68.167°N 13.750°E / 68.167; 13.750),
Flakstadøya (109.8 km² 68°5′N 13°20′E / 68.083°N 13.333°E / 68.083; 13.333),
Moskenesøya (185.9 km² 67°55′N 13°0′E / 67.917°N 13.000°E / 67.917; 13.000),

whilst further to the south are the small and isolated islands of Værøy and Røst. The total land area amounts to 1,227 km², and the population totals 24,500.

Between the mainland and the Lofoten archipelago is the vast, open Vestfjord, and to the north is Vesterålen. The main towns in Lofoten are Leknes in Vestvågøy and Svolvær in Vågan.

The islands have for more than 1,000 years been the centre of great cod fisheries, especially in winter, when the cod migrate south from the Barents Sea and gather in Lofoten to spawn. In the lowland areas, particularly Vestvågøy, agriculture is important and has been so since the Bronze Age.

Images for kids

"Raftsund, Lofoten, Digermulen, Norway", c. 1890–1900
Svolvær in Lofoten, Norway. View from the ferry harbour
Geological map of Lofoten and Vesterålen
A mountain massif of Flakstadøya island backgrounding the road to Nusfjord village
Nusfjord
The E10 road follows the archipelago southwest to Å. Late August near Eggum, Vestvågøy
Sakrisøy
Henningsvær in Lofoten, the harbour during fishing season
The Lofotr Viking Museum, Borg in Vestvågøy
Steinsfjorden in Lofoten
Ramberg beach in Flakstad
Sildpollneset and Higravstindan mountains, Vågan municipality
Stockfish has been exported from Lofoten for at least 1,000 years.
The view from mount Tjeldbergtinden
Djupfjorden in Lofoten
Reine in winter
fra Lofoten Theodor Kittelsen (1890)
Lofoten Island Lev Lagorio (1895)
Lofotenlandskap Anna Boberg (1910)
Blick von Lauksund auf Trolltinden am Raftsund, Lofoten Themistokles von Eckenbrecher (1906)
Blick von Svolvaer nach Storemolla und Lillemolla Hermann Eschke (1887)
Fra Svolvær i Lofoten Gunnar Berg

Lofoten facts for kids

Images for kids

See also