Difference between revisions of "Nordkapp"

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'''Nordkapp''' (North Cape in [[England|English]]) is the northernmost point of continental [[Europe]] and [[Norway]].
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'''Nordkapp''' (North Cape in [[English]]) is a 307 metres (1,007 ft) high cliff which is usually referred to as the northernmost point of both [[Europe]] and [[Norway]].
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However, the neighbouring point of ''Knivskjellodden'' is some 1,500 metres (0.93 mi) further north, therefore this is considered the real northernmost point of Europe. It is accessible only by foot.
  
 
==Hitching Out==
 
==Hitching Out==

Revision as of 23:25, 3 July 2009

Nordkapp (North Cape in English) is a 307 metres (1,007 ft) high cliff which is usually referred to as the northernmost point of both Europe and Norway.

However, the neighbouring point of Knivskjellodden is some 1,500 metres (0.93 mi) further north, therefore this is considered the real northernmost point of Europe. It is accessible only by foot.

Hitching Out

<map lat='71.16410288637437' lng='25.791263580322266' zoom='12' view='0' float='right'/> Once you have reached Nordkapp, your best bet to hitch out (which involves you return back from where you came) is to hitch a ride at the NordKapp Hall itself. You should at least manage to get a ride to the nearest town of Honningsvåg or with luck even manage to get out of Magerøya Island.

Anyhow, the distances are so big that walking out of the place is basically useless since Nordkapp is anyway the emission zone of all traffic in the area. The same applies when it comes to leave the island while hitching from Honningsvåg, it is better to stay at the crossroad of the E69 at the entrance of the town instead of walking along the road and into any of the 4km+ tunnels.

There is two things to bear in mind, the Tunnel to Magerøya Island is toll per passenger in the car (both ways). You might therefore have to pay your due. However, there is a general tolerance to tourists cycling, walking, and backpacking. To avoid paying the one-way fee (NOK 48,-/€6 per passenger in 2007), on the way to the island ask your driver to drop you out between the tunnel and the Bomstasjon (pronounced boumstashiôn), and to please wait for you on the other side. Just walk around the station. The people will not mind, as they have to charge passengers in the car at the tollbooth. You can wave at them to show your gratitude. On the way out of the island towards the mainland, walk around the station and hitch a few meters before the tunnel.

Lithuanian hitch-hiker Sigurdas at Nordkapp in January 2002.

After the Tunnel, the only worth ride to catch is at least until the crossroad of the E6 to a place called Olderfjors (also often mapped as Russenes). However, if the locals offer you a ride to somewhere not that far, do accept it. You will be sure to learn a lot of local knowledge, might get to visit a genuine Finnmark cabin (hytte) somewhere along the road. Remember this is the only road, therefore you will not miss out on the traffic, as long as you are on a stretch of the road where you can be seen and where cars can stop.

At Olderfjord, try and talk to as many people as possible, as this place is little more than a crossroad. The E69 takes you to Nordkapp. The E6 brings you on one side to Hammerfest, Alta, Tromsö and the rest of the country. On the other side it will take you to Kirkenes (very few people driving that distance), but also to Lakselv, Karasjok, and Finland.

Winter season

The way to and from Nordkapp during the winter.

The road to North Cape is open for all traffic the year round, except between the period about 01.11 till about 30.04. The road is closed for all traffic after the first snowfall. That means no hitch-hiking is possible as there are no cars and the road is not cleaned of the snow. Due security reasons it’s therefore only the local buses have permission of the authorities to drive up the last 13 km on the E69 from the crossing at Skarsvåg to North Cape in the period between 01.12 till the 31.03. It is possible to hitch up to the last crossing to Skarsvåg (although there are very few cars going to this small village in winter/early spring) and then continue by foot - the Arctic winter climate makes it especially challenging and at the same time very exciting to visit Europe’s northernmost point at this time of the year. Remember, the North Cape is situated way above arctic circle, and you would be surrounded by complete darkness for ~20 hours a day during winter season.