Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From the main trailhead at Lakshol, it's a three-hour, 7km walk up the valley to the free
StorskogvasshyttaandRagohyttahuts,thenastiffclimbupandovertheridgeintoSweden
to connect with the well-established trail system over the border.
Maps to use are
Sisovatnet,
at 1:50,000, or
Sørfold,
at 1:75,000. To reach Lakshol, turn
east off the E6 at the Trengsel bridge and continue about 6km to the end of the road.
Narvik
POP 18,450
Narvik is pincered by islands to the west and mountains in every other direction, while
spectacular fjords stretch north and south. The town is a relative youngster, established in
1902 as an ice-free port for the rich Kiruna iron mines in Swedish Lapland. Recently it has
begun to capitalise on the unique sporting and sightseeing activities offered by its majestic
surroundings and the spectacular Ofotbanen railway to Sweden.
NARVIK, ORE & WAR
During WWII control of this strategic port was essential to the Nazi war machine, in-
tent upon halting iron supplies to the Allies and usurping the bounty. In April 1940,
10 German destroyers ploughed through a blizzard to enter the port and sink two
Norwegian battleships. Next day five British destroyers arrived and a fierce naval
battle resulted in the loss of two ships on each side. In May, British, Norwegian,
French and Polish troops disembarked and took back the town.
The Nazis, however, didn't retreat and the town was decimated, as evidenced by
the remains of soldiers in the cemeteries and 34 ships of five nations (Norway, Bri-
tain, France, the Netherlands and Germany) in the harbour. On 8 June 1940 the Allies
surrendered Narvik, which remained under German control until 8 May 1945.
Although the town was admirably rebuilt, downtown Narvik is less than prepos-
sessing (some would say it's ugly). Still, the surrounding fjord, forest and mountain
country borders on the spectacular in all directions, and the trans-shipment facility
bisecting the city still loads several million tonnes of ore annually from train wagons
onto ships.
