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Despite being in the Arctic Circle, Lofoten, an archipelago in Norway's Nordland region separated from the mainland by the Vestfjord, experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature variances relative to its latitude. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, its climate of mild winters and warm summers isn't as severe as other such northerly regions. Lofoten's four main islands of Austvågoy, Vestvågoy, Moskenesoy and Flakstadoy together with a number of smaller islands, lie so close together that from a distance they resemble a single mountain range. Surrounded by countless rocky islets, the islands are indented by numerous inlets and fjords with towering rock walls of up to 3,300ft. The mountains themselves, some as high as 4,154 ft, are Alpine with characteristic steep-sided, snow-capped summits. Lofoten's cliffs are perfect for nesting seabirds and other wildlife, while abundant marine life, such as migrating killer whales, provide another great reason to visit. Tourism in fact makes a significant year-round contribution to the economy. The sun came out at last so we decided to make the most of it. We booked a boat trip to Trollfjord, described as a Sea Eagle Safari. I must admit, I was surprised at the warm suits, gloves and goggles we were provided with; it was on a par with Sweden in the snow last year. However, once we got out into open water, it was clearly necessary. Travelling at speeds of up to 60km per hour, the icy wind soon numbed any exposed skin. Equipped with a bucket full of herring we travelled up the straits of Raftsundet where we had visited by land yesterday. Before arriving at the fjord, our guide spotted a sea eagle sitting on a rock. How he spotted it is beyond me as I had trouble seeing it even when it was pointed out! He must have spoken 'eagle' because after a few whistles and some herring in the water to tempt him, he began to swoop and glide before diving into the water to retrieve his reward. It was a truly amazing sight. We continued our journey into the short and narrow fjord. Waterfalls flowed down sheer cliff faces and it was eerily warm and quiet. What a pity they felt the need to build a power station at the end of it. On the way back the eagles thrilled us again. I suppose they must be used to the boats coming past with treats several times daily. Thankfully, they are thriving here with numbers rising every year. We had a lovely lunch in Bacalao on the harbour. The sun was very hot as we wandered round the town. Back at Svinoya, we had a walk around the island. The sea was absolutely flat and still, it was really beautiful. We sat on the terrace and enjoyed the heat of the sun. Fortunately, the sun was on our balcony when we got back so we had a cuppa outside.
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