301km (187 miles) NE of Bodø; 1,647km (1,021 miles) NE of Bergen; 1,479km (917 miles) N of Oslo This ice-free seaport on the Ofotfjord is in Nordland fylke (country), 403km (250 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. Narvik, founded in 1903 when the Ofoten (not to be confused with "Lofoten") railway line was completed, boasts Europe's most modern shipping harbor for iron ore. It's also the northernmost electrified railway line in the world. It covers a magnificent scenic route, through precipitous mountain terrain and tunnels, over ridges, and across tall stone embankments. Only 11km (6 3/4 miles) from Narvik, Straumsnes station is the last permanent habitation you'll encounter as you go east. The last Norwegian station, Bjørnfjell, is well above the timberline and about 3 hours from Kiruna, Sweden, some 140km (87 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. You can catch a train at Kiruna to Stockholm. If you're driving from Kiruna to Narvik, take no. 98 heading northwest to E6 heading southwest toward Narvik. Narvik looms large in World War II history books. On April 9, 1940, 10 Nazi destroyers entered Narvik waters to sink two Norwegian battleships. On April 10, a series of five British destroyers arrived to take the German boats on in combat. The tragic battle at sea resulted in the sinking of two destroyers on each side. On April 12, the British sent planes to attack the Germans. Allied forces were successful in reclaiming Narvik by late May. However, the victory
....
[ read more on Narvik.. ]
|
