Havøysund
Provided by:
Visit Hammerfest
You have now arrived at the adventurous Havøya, the centre of Havøysund municipality which lies at exactly 71°north. Fish and the fishing industry have been the driving force behind this community throughout the ages. you can find here shipowners, factories, dry docks and the world’s most northerly klipp fish factory which safeguards the entire value chain of the fish. Tourism also thrives here, with good reason. The beautiful and wild nature of Finnmark is a vision that will attach itself to your retina for ever. You can also find a good assortment of shops, accommodation, and other amenities. As the centre of administration for Måsøy municipality all the necessary public services can be found here in the immediate vicinity. Havøysund also has daily calls from the hurtigruten, bus connections to the mainland and further on to the whole world, and fast ferry connections to the rest of the archipelago. In short, in Havøysund you can find everything you need, especially good harbours. The residents love their island and have many active associations covering a variety of interests. Here you can easily get to the island’s outer points which will give you a spectacular view out to the neighbouring islands that stretch out towards the Arctic Ocean.
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Points of interest
#1
Intro
You have now arrived at the adventurous Havøya, the centre of Havøysund municipality which lies at exactly 71°north. Fish and the fishing industry have been the driving force behind this community throughout the ages. you can find here shipowners, factories, dry docks and the world’s most northerly klipp fish factory which safeguards the entire value chain of the fish. Tourism also thrives here, with good reason. The beautiful and wild nature of Finnmark is a vision that will attach itself to your retina for ever. You can also find a good assortment of shops, accommodation, and other amenities. As the centre of administration for Måsøy municipality all the necessary public services can be found here in the immediate vicinity. Havøysund also has daily calls from the hurtigruten, bus connections to the mainland and further on to the whole world, and fast ferry connections to the rest of the archipelago. In short, in Havøysund you can find everything you need, especially good harbours. The residents love their island and have many active associations covering a variety of interests. Here you can easily get to the island’s outer points which will give you a spectacular view out to the neighbouring islands that stretch out towards the Arctic Ocean.
#2
Havøysund Art
“I hated the mountains and the hills, the rivers and the rain. I hated the sunsets of whatever colour; I hated its beauty and its magic and the secret I would never know. I hated its indifference and the cruelty which was part of its loveliness.” Jean Rhys’ famous quote from the Sargasso Sea in 1966 is a fitting introduction to this bare, but beautiful building that you now see in front of you, which is integrated into the artwork within, housing two monumental glass objects weighing 4,9 tons. The renowned artist, Roni Horn, who on a daily basis holds art exhibitions in all the world’s great cities, was inspired by little Havøysund that juts out into the magnificent sea. One of the glass objects is cool with a blueish tint, whilst the other is a warm peach colour. The objects symbolise and exude silence in this harsh but beautiful part of the world, where the variation in light, midnight sun, northern lights, and long winter darkness, constantly create new moods. The National Tourist Road wanted to install an art installation here in Havøysund because this is literally the end of the road. The road out here showcases breath-taking scenery, but if you want to travel further, you will have to take the boat. Roni Horn’s artwork invites visitors to continue the journey in their imagination.
#3
Havøysund Bridge
Congratulations! You are now standing on the world’s most northerly bridge of significant size. The bridge which stretches nearly 300 metres over the sound from Havøysund to the mainland, was opened for traffic in 1986 by the beloved King Olav V. Many boats pass under the bridge daily, and it has a sailing clearance height of 23 metres. To the east you can see Måsøy and behind it Nordkapp. To the west you can see Rolvsøya before the horizon is swallowed by the Norwegian sea. The bridge doesn’t only connect Havøysund with the mainland, it also connects the mainland to Havøysund. Which gave the people who live in the municipality on the mainland, easier access to public and other services.
#4
Storevannet
Do you like to swim? Well now you have the possibility to swim in what is perhaps the world’s most northerly public beach. And that is of course where you are standing right now. At 71 degrees north at Storevannet in Havøysund. Next to the beach is the Storevannspark, where you can sit back and enjoy life on one of the benches, grill, fish in, or row on the lake if there is a boat available. At the ned of the lake towards the west you will find a burial place and the road further up to Havøygavlen.
#5
Hellegropene i Storvika
Storvika on Havøya lies a few hundred metres west of Strandgata, and therein lies what are believed to be ‘hellegroper’ Hellegroper are oval or rectangular pits that are set with stone on the bottom and sides. These pits were used to extract the oil from seal and whale blubber, to be used as a trading commodity. Hellegroper date from around the year 100 to the end of the Viking Age and were mostly in use between the years 600 to 900. The oil was used as a lubricant for wood and rope work as well as in the treatment and production of leather, therefore there was a large market for oil in Europe. There is still some discussion as to why hellegroper went out of use in the Middle Ages, but it is probably connected to shifting social and cultural patterns. In total there are 88 registered hellegroper in Måsøy municipality.
#6
Trollkjerka
Down by the sea and around 500 metres to the west of the bridge on the mainland side, there is a cave which is known as the ‘Trollkjerka’. According to local legend it was said to have been a place of sacrifice. The cave perhaps got its unusual name from its inside which is reminiscent of the inside of a church, or maybe it was a place where troll magic was carried out. There is also nearby the sacrificial altar at Nipen, and next to the sound, you can find a tall blue stone which according to legend is a Sami who was petrified by sorcery. In any case, such caves and special natural formations provide fertile ground for many myths and sagas about huldrer, trolls, sea serpents or nisse to grow. This is the case in this area and many such stories are deep rooted here and continue to be exciting tales for children and tourists alike.
#7
Havøygavlen
You have arrived at the world’s most northerly wind farm, Havøygavlen. With its 10 turbines it produces enough electricity to power 4655 houses and one small apartment, or 120 GWh as professionals would say. And here at the top of the mountain, where nature’s most beautiful natural whimsy blends with the mechanical whirr of the wind turbines, you can see where the Norwegian Sea meets the Barents Sea and spreads around many of the beautiful and idyllic islands in our municipality. Furthest to the west of us you can see Ingøya and then Rolvsøya. To the opposite side on the east, furthest away is Måsøya with Hjelmsøya closest to us. And behind them lies the world-famous tourist attraction of Nordkapp. Nå hadde det sikkert vært godt med en kopp kaffe eller noe å bite i. Restauranten som ligger i enden av veien er tidvis åpen, og kan garantere Arctic View, og har vært en turistmagnet i mange år. Den har vært berømt for sin hyggelige betjening, mat og selvfølgelig, sin helt unike utsikt. It would now surely be good to have a coffee and a bite to eat. The restaurant that lies at the end of the road is occasionally open and can guarantee an Arctic View and has been a tourist magnet for many years. It is famous for its friendly service, food and of course, it’s completely unique view. And should the restaurant be closed; the spectacular view will still be open and visible 24 hours a day in summertime and is completely free.