| Lofoten |
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| districts of nordland | |
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Lofoten is an Archipelago and a Traditional District in the county of Nordland , Norway . GEOGRAPHY AND NATURE Lofoten is located at the 67th and 68th degree parallels north of the Arctic Circle in Northern Norway . It is well known for its exceptional natural beauty within Norway. Lofoten encompasses the municipalities of Vågan , Vestvågøy , Flakstad , Moskenes , Værøy , and Røst . The principal islands, running from north to south, are
whilst further to the south are the small and isolated islands of Værøy () and Røst (). The total land area amounts to 1,227 km&2, and the population totals 24,500. Between the mainland and the archipelago lies the vast, open Vestfjord , and to the north is Vesterålen . The principal towns in Lofoten are Leknes in Vestvågøy and Svolvær in Vågan . The Lofoten Islands are characterised by their mountains and peaks, sheltered inlets, stretches of seashore and large virgin areas. The highest mountain in Lofoten is (Malstrøm) system of Tidal Eddies is located in western Lofoten, and is indeed the root of the term Maelstrom . The sea is rich with life, and the worlds largest deep water coral reef (Røst Reef, 40 km long) is located west of Røst. Lofoten has a very high density of Sea Eagle s and Cormorants , and millions of other sea birds, among them the colourfull Puffin . Otter s are common, and there are Elk on Austvågøy. CLIMATE Winter temperatures in Lofoten are very mild considering the location north of the Arctic Circle (largest positive temperature anomaly in the world relative to ). Typical daytime temperature in May is 9°C (48°F), in July 15°C (60°F) and in September 11°C (52°F). The warmest recording in Svolvær is 30.4°C (87°F). Strong winds can occur in late Autumn and Winter , but are rare late March - mid-October. Snow and Sleet are not uncommon in winter; the mountains can have substantial amounts of snow. In Svolvær, the sun (midnight sun) is above the Horizon from May 25 to July 17, and in winter the sun does not rise from December 4 to January 7. In Leknes , the sun is above the horizon from May 26 to July 17, and in winter the sun does not rise from December 9 to January 4. HISTORY Fisheries , especially in winter, when the cod migrates south from the Barents Sea and gathers in Lofoten to Spawn . Bergen in south western Norway was for a long time the hub for further export south to large parts of Europe , particularly so when trade was controlled by the Hanseatic League . In the lowland areas, particularly Vestvågøy, Agriculture plays a significant role, as it has done since the Bronze Age . (skrei) outside Flakstad island (March, 2005).]] The name Lofoten is derived from "lo", meaning lynx, and "foten" meaning "the foot". The chain of islands with its pointed peaks looks like a lynx' foot from the mainland. In Norwegian, it is always a singular. Another name one might come across, is "Lofotveggen" - or the Lofoten wall. The archipelago looks like a closed wall when seen from elevated points around Bodø , some 100km long, and 800-1000 m. high. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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