History - Norway - page 937

Perhaps the most curious aspect of Viking voyages, however, was the navigational
tool they employed to travel through uncharted territory. Norse sagas mention a mys-
terious device known as a solarsteinn (sunstone), which allowed navigation even
when the sky was overcast or the sun was below the horizon and celestial navigation
was impossible.
It is now generally agreed that the solarsteinn was a crystal of cordierite, which is
found around Scandinavia and has natural polarising qualities. When observed from
below and rotated, light passing through the crystal is polarised blue when the long
axis is pointed towards the source of the sunlight. Even today, jet planes flying over
polar regions, where magnetic compasses are unsuitable, use a sky compass that de-
termines the position of the sun by filtering sunlight through an artificial polarising
lens.
Explore North ( www.explorenorth.com/vikings.html ) is the ultimate site for wannabe Vikings, with ex-
tensive links to Viking history and sagas, Norse gods, Norse mythology and a delicious smattering of con-
spiracy theories.
Harald Fair-Hair
Harald Hårfagre (Harald Fair-Hair), son of Hvaldan Svarte (Halvdan the Black), was more
than the latest in a long line of great Viking names. While most Viking chieftains made
their name in foreign conquest, Harald Fair-Hair was doing something that no other leader
had managed before - he united the disparate warring tribes of the Viking nation.
Harald's greatest moment came in 872 at Hafrsfjord near Haugesund when he emerged
victorious from one of world history's few civil wars to be decided at sea. When the dust
settled, Norway had become a single country.
Viking Museums
» Viking Ship Museum, Oslo
» Lofotr Viking Museum, Vestvågøy, Lofoten
» Nordvegen Historiesenter, Karmøy island
» Vikingland, Spangereid