69 degrees north. Andenes, Norway

Zygote · April 15, 2007

I decided to spend my easter vacation with a friend who lives in Andenes, Norway. Andøy lies at a latitude of almost 70º, and is further north than either Kautokeino in Finnmark or Murmansk on the Kola peninsula and is 300 km north of the Arctic Circle.

The municipality of Andøy covers an area of 659,3 square kilometres, on the islands of Hinnøy and Andøy. It has a population of almost 6,000, half of whom live in Andenes, the administrative centre.

Around the island there are long beaches

Just outside Andenes there is a little Island called "Bleiksøya", which you see in the picture below to the right, with Norways longest sandy beach.

A little further from Bleik there is a special place called "Bukkekirka". This place is "blessed" and fuctions as an outdoor church which includes marriages, baptisms and Sunday services. The alter is where you see the cross.

There are a lot of birds on the island. Unfortunately i didn't have the time to "pursue" them, but here are a few

Eagles

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Zygote · April 15, 2007

Fishing is the work of many people on the island

One could find crabs on the beach

The houses on the island are in every colour and shape

The weather changed all the time from Storm, to snowing, rain and sun.

I visited some Llamas also

Andenes Lighthouse was opened in 1859 and is
still in use, although it has now been automated.
The lighthouse is 40 metres tall and has
an inside staircase with 148 steps.

Angry water with the Senja mountains in the background.

The old port of Andenes

Thanks for looking