Saltstraumen

Saltstraumen is one of the most powerful tidal currents on earth, where enormous volumes of water are forced through a narrow strait near Bodo as the tide turns, creating a churning maelstrom of rapids and whirlpools up to ten metres across. Four times a day the sea roars through, watched from the bridge and shore.

History

The remains of a 10,000-year-old hunters' settlement here are the oldest known traces of people in Bodø, hunters drawn by the fish the current brings. Up to 400 million cubic metres of seawater force their way through the 3-kilometre strait, 150 metres wide, every six hours, forming whirlpools up to 10 metres across and 5 metres deep (Wikipedia, Saltstraumen).

Highlights

• The maelstrom - the surging water and huge whirlpools at the turn of the tide.
• The bridge view - the road bridge arching over the strait, the classic vantage.
• Fishing - the current draws big fish, and anglers work the edges.
• Boat trips - RIB trips that ride out to the whirlpools when it is safe.

When to go

Around the turn of the tide, and strongest at the spring tides near full and new moon - check a tide table to time it, since between turns the water is calm. It runs year-round.

Practical notes

The spectacle depends entirely on the tide, so arriving at slack water means seeing little - a tide table is essential. It is powerful but subtle to a casual eye compared with a waterfall, best understood with a little context. The water is deadly dangerous, so admire it from the bridge and shore.

Nearby

Bodo, the gateway to Lofoten, is close; the Svartisen glacier lies down the coast.

Key facts