Norway - The North Cape Center

Norway tour to North Cape - Day 06, the north Cape Center.

5 photos stitched.

 

In Norway visitors to the North Cape are in the thousands in the season, annually app. 250.000 visitors. But try to be there in a day in January - especially a day without any stop from the Hurtigruten (Coastal Express) in the nearby village Honningsvåg.

 

As it was this particular grey day in January. The daily car convoy, lead by a huge snow plow, consisted of only 4 cars and maybe 12 visitors that simply just disappeared in the huge North Cape Center or in outside activities. Illustrated here in a photo stitch of 5 photos from the North Cape Plateau with the people near the "Children of the World Sculpture", the big Hall in the center and the Arctic globe monument at far right.

 

The North Cape Hall

For several hundred years, the North Cape, which is located at 71°10'21, has attracted people from every corner of the globe. The globe monument erected in 1978 has become the actual symbol for the North Cape. At present, Nordkapphallen (North Cape Hall) is firmly ensconced on the massive cliff, 307 m above sea level, and marks the northernmost tip of Europe, representing the final frontier with the arctic sea.

Nordkapphallen (North Cape Hall) is open all year round and is a tourist centre for visitors to the North Cape. The centre offers a host of facilities.

Tour to Norway Arctic - Sjoegata / Sjøgata in Tromso / Tromsø

Tour to Norway Arctic. Day 04 Tromsø - Sjøgata

Sjøgata can be considered Tromsø's oldest street. It was built between Skansen and the church then lay a few hundred meters south of Prostneset. Along with Strand Street and Skippergata followed the shoreline, and is therefore not entitled as planned streets that Tromsø's main street today. Early in its history it was the main commercial street.

In this photo version I present a tilt-shift variant.

From wiki:

Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway.

It is the largest city and the largest urban area in Northern Norway, and the second largest city and urban area north of the Arctic Circle in Sápmi (following Murmansk).

Most of Tromsø, including the city centre, is located on the small island of Tromsøya in the county of Troms, 350 kilometres (217 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. Substantial parts of the urban area are also situated on the mainland to the east, and on parts of Kvaløya — a large island to the west.

Tromsøya is connected to the mainland by the Tromsø Bridge and the Tromsøysund Tunnel, and to the island of Kvaløya by the Sandnessund Bridge. The city is warmer than most other places located on the same latitude, due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream.

The city centre of Tromsø contains the highest number of old wooden houses in Northern Norway, the oldest house dating from 1789.

The Arctic Cathedral, a modern church from 1965, is probably the most famous landmark in Tromsø.

Norway - the Arctic Cathedral

Tour to Norway Arctic. Day 04 Tromsø - The Arctic Cathedral

Over the bridge from the city to the community Tromsdalen we can see the distinct profile of Tromsdalen Church - mostly called The Arctic Cathedral. (Also this photo from my stop on the Northern bound coastal express). Photo from 14.14 in the afternoon.

Some more from wiki:

The Arctic Cathedral, formally known as Tromsdalen Church, is a church in the city of Tromsø in Troms county, Norway. The church is commonly nicknamed the Ishavskatedralen, literally "The Cathedral of the Arctic Sea" or "Arctic Cathedral". The church was built in 1965 in the Tromsdalen valley and it is a parish church and not, in fact, a cathedral as it is commonly called.

The church was designed by the architect Jan Inge Hovig and is built mainly of concrete.The church is probably the most famous landmark in Tromsø, although Tromsø does have another church of interest, Tromsø Cathedral, which is noted for being the only wooden cathedral in Norway.

Norway Arctic - Tromsø / Tromso Cathedral

 

Tour to Norway Arctic. Day 04 Tromsø Cathedral

A big advantage being a photographer up North in the dark time of the winter is that you do not need to wait long to have the blue hour. Like here the clock is not yet 4PM and the blue hour is already present. This photo is of the fine wood church Tromsø Cathedral placed right in the center of the town.

 

Some more info from Wiki:

Tromsø Cathedral (Norwegian: Tromsø domkirke) is a cathedral in the city of Tromsø in Troms county, Norway. It is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland in the Church of Norway. This cathedral is notable since it is the only Norwegian cathedral made of wood.

The church is built in Gothic Revival style, with the church tower and main entrance on the west front. It is probably the northernmost Protestant cathedral in the world. With over 600 seats, it is one of Norway's biggest wooden churches. It originally held about 984 seats, but many benches and seats have been removed over the years to make room for tables in the back of the church.

The structure was completed in 1861. It was built using a cog joint method. It is situated in the middle of the city of Tromsø on a site where in all likelihood there has been a church since the 13th century

The first church in Tromsø was built in 1252 by King Haakon IV of Norway as a royal chapel.

The present cathedral was consecrated on 1 December 1861 by the Bishop Carl Peter Essendrop. In 1862 the bell tower was completed and the bell was installed. All of the interior decorations and art were not completed until the 1880s.

 

Norway Arctic - mainstreet Tromsø / Tromso

Tour to Norway arctic. Day 04 Tromsø

On this tour I visited Tromsø twice. First for a long stop on tour North with the MS Midnatsol and then waiting 8hrs. for the arrival of MS Nordkapp going south.

 

The photo of today was taken going north when I was walking around, as displayed here, in the busy main street. These days partly closed for cars to the benefit of the pedestrians.

 

You can see that the daylight is soon to end, already at 2.45PM. And people are warmly dressed even in just -5C degrees - but it was windy this day and by that it felt more like -10C...

 

From wiki:

Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway.

It is the largest city and the largest urban area in Northern Norway, and the second largest city and urban area north of the Arctic Circle in Sápmi (following Murmansk).

Most of Tromsø, including the city centre, is located on the small island of Tromsøya in the county of Troms, 350 kilometres (217 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. Substantial parts of the urban area are also situated on the mainland to the east, and on parts of Kvaløya — a large island to the west.

Tromsøya is connected to the mainland by the Tromsø Bridge and the Tromsøysund Tunnel, and to the island of Kvaløya by the Sandnessund Bridge. The city is warmer than most other places located on the same latitude, due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream.

The city centre of Tromsø contains the highest number of old wooden houses in Northern Norway, the oldest house dating from 1789.

The Arctic Cathedral, a modern church from 1965, is probably the most famous landmark in Tromsø.

 

Norway, Tromso, arrival in a magic winter afternoon light

Tour to Norway North Cape. Day 04 Tromsø

On this tour I visited Tromsø twice. First for a long stop on the tour North with the MS Midnatsol where we arrived in the typical light of an early winter afternoon as displayed in this photo taken at 14.15 when sailing in the Tromsøsundet.

From wiki:

Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway.

It is the largest city and the largest urban area in Northern Norway, and the second largest city and urban area north of the Arctic Circle in Sápmi (following Murmansk).

Most of Tromsø, including the city centre, is located on the small island of Tromsøya in the county of Troms, 350 kilometres (217 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. Substantial parts of the urban area are also situated on the mainland to the east, and on parts of Kvaløya — a large island to the west.

Tromsøya is connected to the mainland by the Tromsø Bridge and the Tromsøysund Tunnel, and to the island of Kvaløya by the Sandnessund Bridge. The city is warmer than most other places located on the same latitude, due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream.

The city centre of Tromsø contains the highest number of old wooden houses in Northern Norway, the oldest house dating from 1789.

The Arctic Cathedral, a modern church from 1965, is probably the most famous landmark in Tromsø.

 

Norway, Senja - Magical Arctic Light

Norway Arctic. Day 04 - The Magical Arctic light

That afternoon at 11.45 AM we departed the village Finnsnes on our way north. Right ahead of the ship we see the grand bridge from the mainland and over to the island Senja. And then: What a magic light - already at this time of the day in late January the sunset is making it's magic in the lightly clouded sky (of course some minor adjustment of contrast and color adjustments expose the light even better in the presented result (but no HDR or exaggerated adjustments)).

Our screens looks often different - Still study the strange light apparently in the clouds in the left part (under the big cloud). Regard the strange colors - not red, not blue but maybe in the direction of green. Is it possible that we have a very early glimpse of the coming Northern Light? (that later in the evening was quite strong this day). I don't know.

Anyway this journey was for me a total surprise with days that I within a few hrs had those stunning sunrises and sunsets.

From the net:

Gisund Bridge is a cantilever road bridge on Norwegian County Road 86 in Troms county, Norway.

The bridge crosses the Gisundet strait from the town of Finnsnes on the mainland to the village of Silsand on the island of Senja.

The 1,147-metre (3,763 ft) long bridge has 25 spans, the main span being 143 metres (469 ft) long. The maximum clearance to the sea below the bridge is 41 metres (135 ft). Gisund Bridge was opened on 23 June 1972.

Senja - Norways second largest island

Senja (Northern Sami: Sážžá) is the second largest island in Norway (not counting Svalbard).

Norwegian musician Moddi comes from the island and his music has been said to have been influenced by the beauty of the island.

Senja is located along the Troms county coastline with Finnsnes as the closest town. The municipalities located on Senja are Lenvik (part of which is on the mainland), Berg, Torsken, and Tranøy. Senja had 7782 inhabitants as of 1 January 2008.

The north and western coasts of Senja are facing the open sea. Here, steep and rugged mountains rise straight from the sea, with some fishing villages (like Gryllefjord, Husøy) wherever there is some lowland. The eastern and southern parts of the island are milder, with rounder mountains, forests, rivers and agriculture land.

Good morning from Norway Arctic

Tour to Norway, North Cape. Day 04. Arctic morning

This photo is taken 9.26AM at sunrise, Jan, 22. 2014. Focal lenght 45mm (90mm). According to my sailing plan with the coastal express we was at that time app. at 68 degrees North (a bit north of Harstad) which we departed 8.00AM).

There is another photo taken in the same minute with focal length 14mm (28mm) that presents quite a different color set for this sunrise. Have a look at:

www.flickr.com/photos/jrjohanson/12716260883

What to say for two photos taken in the same minute, with so different light, of the same landscape a winter morning in Januaray sailing with Hurtigruten, the coastal steamer, north along our very long coastline right up to the North Cape.

 

Norway Arctic - departure in Arctic Blue

Norway Arctic. Day 04 -Blue departure from Bodø

The tour continues and after a stay in the main city of the Nordland county: Bodø we departure on our way to cross the Vestfjorden going to Lofoten.

As you see in a very fine blue hour of the afternoon (3.17PM).

I had done my best to travel this tour under calm sailing conditions (not ordering any tickets before I was reasonably sure of the weather (less than 10 days in front of my tour)).

In this video from the last days you can get an impression of how it can be in the winter time when Hurtigruten departs Bodø in typical winter weather and not the max weather I had:

www.nrk.no/nordland/uvaeret-rammer-fergene-1.11603555