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If you look near the top of a globe — inside the Arctic Circle between 74° and 81° north latitude — above continental Norway — you will find a small mass of islands known as the Svalbard archipelago.
The Svalbard archipelago is the northernmost part of Norway. Just over 15,000 square miles in size, Spitsbergen is the largest island of Svalbard.
The island of Spitsbergen is known for polar bears, coal mining, the midnight sun, the Global Seed Vault and a plethora of glaciers, mountains and fjords.
Scenic cruising in Magdalena Fjord
Near the northern part of the Spitsbergen is the Magdalena Fjord – a glorious place to view from the deck of a cruise ship in August.
See all of this week’s Photo Friday submissions for “Slick” here.
Other posts on Arctic locations you might enjoy:
Torghatten Mountain is located on Torget Island on the coast of central Norway. The mountain is known for a natural tunnel – or hole – running through its center.
A troll created the hole, according to local legend.
According to legend, the hole in Torghatten was made by the troll Hestmannen while he was chasing a beautiful girl. When the Hestmannen realized that he would not catch the girl, he shot an arrow to kill her. The troll-king of Sømna – watching the troll chase the maiden – threw his hat into the arrow’s path to save her. The hat turned into the mountain, with the hole in the middle where the arrow punctured the hat.
The tunnel or hole in the mountain occurred during the Scandinavian ice age. Today, a hiking trail allows visitors to hike up to the tunnel, then down stairs into the hole, and then to the other side.
Visit Torghatten from Brønnøysund, Norway via cruise ship
We first saw the hole in the mountain sailing by on a cruise ship, before docking in the port of Brønnøysund. From the ship, we had booked a shore excursion to hike through the hole in the mountain.
After a 20-minute drive from the port, we arrived at the base of the mountain. Our guide estimated it would take 20 minutes to climb to the hole. In reality, it was more like an hour.
The path up to the hole was rocky and steep.
Once you get into the “hole”, you have to climb down steep stairs to proceed through the tunnel.
The view out of the “hole in the mountain” is spectacular – overlooking the Norwegian Sea below.
After taking our turn for photos, it was time to climb back up the steep stairs through the hole.
Then climb back down the rocky path.
The views are spectacular.
There’s our cruise ship in the distance.
Read more about our adventures in Brønnøysund, Norway here.
Have you been to Norway? If so, what’s your favorite Norwegian destination?
Other posts on Norway you may enjoy:
Hints:
Be the first to post your answer in comments. Check back on Wednesday for a post on this destination.