Honningsvag and the North Cape

Small Fiord

The town of Honningsvag is the farthest large town in Norway at a latitude of about 71 North. Just to the north is North Cape, the last of the European land mass and about 1300

To The Cape

miles from the North Pole. It is around this cape that the convoys of WW2 found their way to Murmansk Russia and thus it saw a lot of action from submarine attacks to the sinking of the Sharanhorst pocket battleship. We we able to spend some time in the town itself but other than many fishing boats, there was little to see. Our tour left in mid morning for the 45 minute ride to the Cape. The landscape was one of tundra, dwarf trees and small bogs. It is much like

North Cape

Canada's north with the exception of no permafrost. The road is only open from May to October and 5 days before we arrived they had over a foot of snow. The cliffs at the cape

are over 1,000 feet high. Apparently we had one of the few days of bright sunshine that occurs. A movie, gift shop, historical info and barren, snow patches and cliffs were the order of the day. We have now been the farthest mainland north and south with our visit around the Cape in South America a few years ago. The trip was escorted but the bus driver on the drive back gave a very good commentary about the area. He stopped so we could take pictures of reindeer, a fiord and a sod house built by the Sami “native”

Selfie At The Cape

peoples. Only the Sami are allowed to own reindeer. In all neat little excursion. Tea and a light lunch and were ready for the rest of the day. We did go to the food action station tonight for hor's d'oevres. The attraction was the shrimp fountain. Dinner was good as always. It was prime rib. Our waiter was on the ball tonight and we were out in time to see the North Cape from the sea. We saw some of the entertainment. It was someone from the British Isles doing and impersonation of a British singer. At least he had some energy. There was a Midnight Sun Party on the open decks a

Reindeer

10:30. There was music, snacks, ice carving, games etc. We were dressed warmly but it was still cold. It is really odd to see sunlight at midnight. Tomorrow we are in Tromso where we will simply spend the day exploring. Weather could be nasty.