Austre Vågan
Austre Vågan is located in the south of the magical and mighty Raftsundet, where the Hurtigruten passes twice a day.
The approx. The 400 inhabitants have their own shop, music club, school and church, and can daily enjoy the view of the magical mountain range along Raftsundet with famous mountains such as Store Trolltind and Rulten, Kjernadalen and Trollfjorden itself.
It was in Trollfjorden that the famous Battle of Trollfjord took place in 1890, a clash between fishermen and fish buyers that led to major changes in Norwegian fisheries legislation. In between the mountains are several smaller glaciers. The Trollfjord is the tenderloin of Norway, some claim.
At least that was the opinion of the German Kaiser Wilhelm who, at a painting exhibition in Berlin in 1869, saw some pictures that made him visit Digermulen and Raftsundet the following year.
This visit, which received a lot of attention, is claimed to be the start of tourism in Lofoten.
The emperor himself helped build a memorial to himself at Digermulkollen, the so-called Keiservarden that still stands.
Hikes up to the memorial are organized annually.
The poet and author Sigurd Sivertsen was from Raften near Raftsundet and lived many years of his life in Digermulen.
At Pundslett close to Digermulen is a larger facility for fish farming. Pundslett Laks / Nordlaks is a cornerstone company in the village. Raftsundet is narrowest in Trangstraumen, where the sea is moving at eight knots per hour at its strongest.
Årstein is the southernmost village in the area. Vegetable production is carried out there to a considerable extent. To the east is Risvær, formerly a fishing village that has developed into a popular leisure area with around forty holiday homes.
Just north of Risvær, in both Vågan and Lødingen Municipality, lies Svellingan, which with its over three hundred islands and islets is one of Norway’s most beautiful archipelagos. West of Svellingan we find Storfjell, which is also a popular leisure area
Facts Information
-
Inhabitants: approx. 375 (2016)
-
Nearest village: Svolvær (75 km)
-
Nearest airport: Svolvær Helle Airport (70 km)
-
Hurtigruten: Svolvær and Sortland
-
68.30 | 14.50
