""Land's End" in Northern Norway - Gåsvær" Gåsvær by Loeffle

Gåsvær Travel Guide: 6 reviews and 8 photos

Not the Caribean - it's Arctic Norway (Gåsvær)

Gåsvær

During my stay I was very lucky being able to join a trip to this (nowadays) deserted island.
It's located on the very end of the Norwegian North West coast. To the west there are only tiny Småvær and Lyngøya left, the next western land would be Greenland. Vengsøya and Musvær are South, Kvaløya is East, and Ringvassøya North East.

Why is Gåsvær so special? Let me try to tell the (hi)story.

In past centuries Norwegian islands very completely remote. The only access was by boat. Often two or three "fishing farms" (made their leaving out of farming and fishing) made a small village. There was no chance to reach these villages by land (even if not all were on islands), because they only cultivated a small strip of flat land. Behind those tiny coastal plains high and steep mountains arise.

So people used boats to leave. Well, they didn't do it often. Perhaps two or three times a year to a bigger village or town like Tromsø. But of course church was important. And here we come to Gåsvær ...
Gåsvær was kind of center for these fishing farmers who could only use boats as transportation. So they came here every Sunday to attend mass, to marry or when someone died to funeral. This system worked for centuries.

Where's Gåsvær?

But it came to an end after WW II, when many fishing farmers gave up that hard and not very comfortable life and moved to the growing cities where they could get a job easily, and get the comforts of "modern life". So they became fewer and fewer, and some day Gåsvær became "useless" and wasn't used anymore.

Today it's used very seldom ... for what? See tips :)

This picture above is taken from
http://home.no.net/norwave/gaasvar.html

Pros and Cons

Pros:wilderness, cultural history of Northern Norway, Atlantic ocean, "Land's End"
Cons:might be hard to get there, don't go there without experienced locals
In a nutshell:dream place

Last visit to Gåsvær: Aug 2000
Intro Updated Jun 1, 2003
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Reviews (6)

Kvalsundet meets Grøtsundet-background Hurtigruta - Gåsvær

Whales ... Things to Do (3)

Believe me or not but there are many whales in the Norwegian Sea. I saw them on a regular basis on my daily walk to... more travel advice

My friend Steffi "posing" on Gåsvær - Gåsvær

Hiking, Bird-watching and Arctic flowers Things to Do (3)

Don't miss walking around Gåsvær. It won't take you long (less than 1 km!), but don't forget to watch the seabirds and... more travel advice

Camping on Gåsvær? Hotels (1)

Yes, Norwegian law allows you to camp on Gåsvær. I never did it, but it's certainly breathtaking. But Norwegian law also... more travel advice

Barbecue on the sand beach ... Favorites (1)

One of my nicest Gåsvær memories is the beach barbecue we did there. We brought everything with us (and took also the... more travel advice

Transportation (1)
How to find a boat to Gåsvær?

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Comments (11)

FletteMette Jun 17, 2005 at 1:53 PM Report Abuse

A nice little page! Looks like a place I'd love to visit - will have to try to get out there when I go back to Tromsø in August:o) ~Mette~
Anjutka Nov 19, 2004 at 7:59 AM Report Abuse

Hope you will visit your favorit country soon!:))))
seattlesmiley Aug 11, 2004 at 6:58 PM Report Abuse

Wow, what a beautiful photograph. thanks for sharing. :) Susan in Sydney
mtncorg Jul 7, 2004 at 12:21 PM Report Abuse

Interesting sidetrip that reveals a lot of Norway.
Maxi1971 Mar 18, 2004 at 1:11 PM Report Abuse

Yes, Norway is beautiful! Ciao
Dany_Kulta Feb 8, 2004 at 7:40 AM Report Abuse

Nice historical comments :) I'd love to visit the north or Norway. Sad it's so expensive :) Nice fotos!
globetrott Nov 2, 2003 at 1:33 PM Report Abuse

What a lovely scenery & great pics ! Norway is such a great place to go ! Please tell me when you make more Norway-pages !!
TempNomad Oct 31, 2003 at 4:04 AM Report Abuse

What an amazing trip! It seems like you have really taken advantage of the true spirit of travel. Great pages.
NateWill22 May 30, 2003 at 1:41 PM Report Abuse

Wow, what a nice little island! Norway is such a cool place, isn't it? Nice pics and very informative tips. Thanks!
Narviking May 27, 2003 at 10:56 AM Report Abuse

You seems to have seen more of Norway than I who lived here all my life !!