Solvær

27 July 2002, 21:25 - 22:20

Svolvær is seen as the capital of Lofoten, nowadays a centre for three main interests: fishing, mountain and winter sports, and painters. The town has 4,000 inhabitants, the municipality 9,000 inhabitants. In Svolvær the industries handle fishing and related products, although the amount of the fishing has decreased since the 1940s. In 1947 20,000 fishermen caught 40-50 million kilograms of cod during January to April. Today there are less than 3,000 fishermen, catching half the tonnage. The Gulf Stream keeps the temperature rather even during the year. The average temperature is +13.9 degree Celsius in July and +1.8 in January. One of the attractions is the 'Svolvær goat', a twin peak around 40 metres high and with the two 'horns' 2-3 metres apart. During the winter the sports centre attracts lots of skiers. The nature of Lofoten, and the special light, also attracts a great number of painters. In nearby Kabelvåg the Vågan Artistic Centre and Art House is a centre for both artists and art-lovers. In Kabelvåg you also can visit the Lofoten aquarium and Lofoten Museum. In the area you also find Vågan church, the largest wooden church north of Trondheim, with seats for 1,200 attendees.

1

2