Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The main islands, Austvågøy, Vestvågøy, Flakstadøy and Moskenesøy, are separated
from the mainland by Vestfjorden. On each are sheltered bays, sheep pastures and pictur-
esque villages. The vistas (the whole of the E10 from tip to toe of Lofoten is designated a
National Tourist Route, a title bestowed only upon the most scenic roads) and the special
qualityoftheArcticlighthavelongattractedartists,representedingalleriesthroughoutthe
islands.
But Lofoten is still very much commercially alive. Each winter the meeting of the Gulf
StreamandtheicyArcticOceandrawsspawningArcticcodfromtheBarentsSea.Forcen-
turies, this in turn drew farmer-fishermen from the mainland's north coast. Although cod
stocks have dwindled dramatically in recent years, fishing still vies with tourism as Lo-
foten's largest industry, as evidenced by the wooden drying racks that lattice nearly every
village on the islands.
