FOTO: Skibotn village from above© skibotn.no
Skibotn village offerings
Skibotn is a small village, which in itself has quite little to offer for a tourist.
In the small Skibotn museum you get a glimpse of the Skibotn market-place history and the background
of the population movements in the area. The small church looks nice.
But the real treat with Skibotn is its location at the Lyngen Alps and Lyngen fjords.
The freshness of the sea at the shores of Northern Norway is like something from
soft drink commercial. The Arctic Ocean in this area does not freeze unlike Kilpisjärvi lake.
Skibotn historical market-place
History of the market starts from time immemorial. From 16th century the markets were held twice a year - both in the winter.
The markets gathered traders, Saami people, farmers, fishers and finnish Kveens. Many
relatively exotic products from overseas were traded in these markets. The market culture ended
in mid 1950s.
E8 ROAD TO NORWAY
The E8 runs from Troms in Norway to Tornio in Finland. In Tornedalen, the road links to Sweden via 6 border crossings.
The northernmost of them is Kaaresuvanto.
A trail of some kind has existed as a Northern Peninsula link from Skibotn to the northern regions of Finland for ages.
Local people used the road to reach markets in Norway, Sweden and Finland.
The road was constructed for reindeer and sleds, and was only navigable during the winter months.
During World War II, the German occupation forces in Norway constructed a traffic road to the Finnish border.
Sections of this original road, on the stretch between Skibotn and the Finnish border, have been preserved to this day.
The E8 is an important communications route for and between Norwegians, Finns, Swedes and the Saami folk.
The road runs through varying climates and vegetation, from the typical coastal climate in Norway,
via mountain and high plains in the border area, then through the forests of Tornedalen and
on to the lush vegetation of Bottenviken.
Distance from Troms to Tornio is 622 kilometers.
CHECK LIST FOR NORWAY
- Norway has quite many pay toll bridges, motorways, and ferries.
Almost all of them are in Southern-Norway - from Trondheim downward.
- One newspaper in Finland had on their "must see in Norway" list - PRICE OF HAMBURGER MEAL!
- If you are travelling on your own car, it is good to
have local money for parking.
- Admission fees can be charged in places where you might not expect.
- Kilpishalli-market in Kilpisjärvi has a Foreign Currency Exchange to get some Norska Kronor
- Norway is amazingly beautiful but expensive country.
- The most important thing to have with you is CAMERA.
LINK SUGGESTIONS:
- Picture gallery of Skibotn
- Norwegian and Swedish links
- Guided tours to Norway and Sweden
- Charter transportation to Northern Norway on a
bus or minibus
- Zoomable Map of Norway
- Kilpisjärvi link bank
Road from Kilpisjärvi to Skibotn ends in an intersection. To the left is road to Troms and Lofoten.
To the right the road winds to the Skibotn Village and further towards Nordkapp.
Between these choices for direction
opens an awesome vista to the village of Skibotn.
The peak behind the fjord is 1214 meters tall Pollfjellet.
Behind that somewhere there is Rundfjellet with its 1413 meters
from the sea level below.
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