NordKapp 71°10′21″N, 25°47′40″E
Unique experience at Nordkapp!
North Cape (Norwegian: Nordkapp; Northern Sami: Davvenjárga) is the northernmost point in Europe that can be accessed by car which makes the road E69 the northernmost public road in Europe. It’s a cape on the northern coast of the island of Magerøya where you can get driving through North Cape Tunnel (Nordkapptunnelen) – one of the longest and the northernmost of the subsea road tunnels in Norway (6,875 km, 9% grade, lowest elevation: – 212 m).
The cape includes a 307-metre-high cliff (1,007 ft) with a large flat plateau on top, where you can watch the midnight sun and views of the sea to the north. The North Cape is the point where the Norwegian Sea, part of the Atlantic Ocean meets the Barents Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean.
You can also visit North Cape Hall, a modern visitor centre, built in 1988 on the plateau. It includes a café, restaurant, post office, souvenir shop, a small museum, and video cinema where you can watch panoramic videos about this amazing region. You can also learn more about the early expeditions to North Cape – the first explorers reached here in the middle of 16th century in search of the Northeast Passage, more than a hundred years later Italian priest Francesco Negri described Nordkapp as purely a tourist trip, but Nordkapp became the real touristic attraction after 1873, when King Oscar climbed these steep cliffs and his effort sparked great interest all over the world. The mountain cliff is a spectacular place for experiencing both the Northern Lights in the winter and Midnight Sun in summer (in Nordkapp the sun doesn’t set between May and July).
Hornvika
The original Nordkapp trail hike
Hornvika is the original entrance of the Nordkapp, used in the past by the royals and adventurers. Hornvika was the former landing site for the tourist ships to visit Nordkapp. Before the road to Nordkapp was completed in 1956, all visitors had to be shipped ashore to Hornvika and then climb 300 metres (985 feet) up the steep mountain to get to the North Cape Plateau. Today you can follow their steps (the organised trips from Skarsvåg include boat travel to Hornvika along fjords)! Along the way to Hornvika you can admire a spectacular rock formation known as the Horn or Hornet, which the Sami People considered to be a sacred place, offering gifts there in the hope of good fortune.
Skarsvåg
The northernmost fishing village
Hytte Camp is located only ca 2 km from Skarsvåg, a lovely, little village , known as the world’s northernmost fishing village. The local fishing fleet primarily fishes for cod in the waters north of Magerøya – you can get one as well, taking fishing boat trip in the local port. Skarsvåg has short distance to famous fishing grounds and the banks outside North Cape. You can also spend nice time in the village. There are only about 60 residents in Skarsvåg – most of them working in the fishing industry, so the place is quiet and relaxing. You can experience the local life and culture, admire the surrounding landscapes or to take a trip to Hornvika or other beautiful places around the village. In the village you’ll also find a well-known… Christmas shop. In the summer the reindeers are everywhere!
Fishing
here is one of the best in Norway
Nordkapp is one of the best places in Norway to catch cod, halibut, haddock, catfish, ling, redfish and others. Skarsvåg has the best coastal fishing grounds. Taking a boat trip with guide you will get exciting fishing experience with stunning views of Nordkapp and the Barents sea (the only land between you and North Pole is Svalbard). You can also fish in the fjords, from the shore, or in the lakes with spinning of fly to catch a trout or smoke.
The best time to catch cod is the winter-spring period – you have the biggest chance to catch specimen exceeding 20 kg! The largest halibut, in turn, are caught at the turn of August and September. The record-breaking halibut caught in the waters surrounding the island weighed 220 kg!
During the boat fishing trip you can also see and hold the King Crabs which grow up to 2 metres wide and weigh up to 15 kg – one of the most impressive creatures of the Barents Sea. It’s one of the most expensive and expensive Norwegian delicacies, traditionally served with bread, mayonnaise and lemon.
Bird watching
in the Gjesværstappan Nature Reserve
The Gjesværstappan Nature Reserve, 15 km west of the Nordkapp cliff, is one of the biggest european birds’ collony. Gjesværstappan is a group of high, steep-sided, grass-covered islands which are located north of the island village of Gjesvær in Nordkapp Municipality in roms og Finnmark county, Norway. The three main islands are Storstappen, Kjerkestappen, and Bukkstappen. The islands contain a large colony of seabirds and have been designated a nature reserve since 1983. The land area of the reserve is 1.7 square kilometres (0.66 sq mi), but the reserve also includes 5.5 square kilometres (2.1 sq mi) of the sea surrounding the islands. The largest colonies of cliff-breeding seabirds are mainly located on the bird cliffs of the biggest island, Storstappen, and between June 15 and August 15 visitors are not allowed to set foot on this island.
The colony is regarded as important because of the large numbers of birds: one of Norway’s largest groups of Atlantic puffins, easily recognisable by their colourful bill, black-legged kittiwakes, great cormorants, European shags, common murres, arctic skuas, fulmars, gannets and razorbills. You can observe them from a boat, taking a trip from Gjesvær, an old fishgibg village in Nordkapp Municipality in Troms og Finnmark county, the only place in Finnmark known from the Viking Age, mentioned in the Heimskringla saga as Geirsver.
