Havmannen

Havmannen, the man of the sea, was made by Antony Gormley in 1995 for the Artscape Nordland project, which placed contemporary sculptures in municipalities across the county. It is a figure about ten metres tall cut from Norwegian granite, standing upright in the shallow water of the Ranfjorden a short distance from the shore at Mo i Rana, facing out. The tide changes it: at low water the base and legs are exposed, at high water the sea reaches its waist, and in winter it stands among ice. It has become the town's emblem, appearing on signs and merchandise, and it is visible from the waterfront path without any approach by boat.

What to look for

• The granite figure - a ten-metre standing form in the fjord shallows.
• The tidal change - the water level altering what is visible through the day.
• The waterfront setting - the sculpture seen from the town promenade.
• The winter ice - the figure standing among ice in the cold months.

When to go

May to September for comfortable viewing along the promenade; the sculpture is there year-round and winter with ice and low light is arguably more striking. Low tide shows more of the figure.

Practical notes

This is a single sculpture seen in fifteen minutes from a promenade, with an industrial town behind it. Mo i Rana is a steel and industry town rather than a scenic one. There is no way to reach the figure itself.

Nearby

Gronligrotta, Marmorslottet and Svartisen are within a short drive; the Arctic Circle centre lies north-east.

Key facts