Laksforsen

Laksforsen drops about seventeen metres in a wide curtain across the full width of the Vefsna river, and the name means the salmon falls: fish run up the Vefsna in summer and can be watched attempting the leap into the pools above, sometimes many at once. A restaurant and viewing terrace sit directly beside the fall with a path down to the rocks at the base, and the site is a standard stop for anyone driving the E6 through Helgeland. The Vefsna was closed to fishing for years after the parasite Gyrodactylus salaris infected it, and following a large treatment programme the river was declared free of it and reopened, with salmon numbers rebuilding since.

The landscape

• The wide curtain - a fall spanning the whole river, seventeen metres high.
• The leaping salmon - fish attempting the climb in summer.
• The viewing terrace - a restaurant and platform beside the water.
• The rock path - a way down to the base of the falls.

When to go

June to August, when salmon are running and most likely to be seen leaping; flow is highest in early summer. The site is accessible year-round but the restaurant and paths are seasonal.

What to expect

The rocks at the base are wet and slippery with fast water beside them, and there are no railings in places. Salmon leaping is unpredictable and can mean a long wait for nothing. The E6 traffic is close and audible throughout.

Nearby

Mosjoen's wooden Sjogata street lies north; Borgefjell National Park is inland to the east.

Key facts