Trollfjord

Trollfjorden is a narrow arm of the sea only about 2 km long, cutting into the island of Austvågøya from the Raftsundet strait, and it is one of the most dramatic places on the coast of northern Norway. At the mouth it is barely 100 metres wide, opening to no more than about 400 metres inside, while the mountains on either side rise almost straight from the water to 600–900 metres — Trollfjordtindan at 830 metres to the west and Tverrdalstindan at 903 metres to the north.

The fjord sits on the boundary between Lofoten and Vesterålen — it lies on Austvågøya, usually counted as Lofoten, but belongs to Hadsel municipality, usually counted as Vesterålen — and both regions claim it. It also has a place in Norwegian history. In 1890 the Battle of Trollfjord broke out here between fishermen in traditional open boats and crews of the new steam-driven fishing ships. Johan Bojer drew on it in his 1921 novel The Last of the Vikings, and Gunnar Berg painted it.

The fjord is seen from the water. The coastal ships on the Bergen–Kirkenes route make a detour into Trollfjorden. Smaller boats run in from Svolvær through the Raftsundet strait, where white-tailed sea eagles, with wingspans of more than two metres, often circle low over the boats. On land, the only approach is a rugged walk of about 10 km.

Getting there

Boat trips to Trollfjorden leave from the quayside in Svolvær and run through Raftsundet, and the coastal ships detour into the fjord. The nearest airport is Stokmarknes (SKN), about 24 km away in a straight line.