Crossing the Arctic Circle

The E6 wound inexorably north, gaining in altitude as we approach the Arctic Circle. The trees thinned out and the mountains flattened into an appropriately bleak and desolate plateau. All of a sudden we came across a signpost announcing that the Arctic Circle was only 2 kilometres ahead. Despite the alien surroundings, and lack of any particularly inspiring monument to make it, it was undeniably exciting to reach the Arctic Circle.

That is, until we opened the car door and felt the wind...it was absolutely freezing. After donning appropriate arctic clothing and exploring the surroundings (poignantly there a couple of monuments marking the POWs from WWII who died extending the train track north) it was time for lunch at the cafe/tourist shop catering for tourists who venture this far north. Predictably enough, the menu consisted of Arctic this and Arctic that. We had arctic pizzas and arctic meatballs (both of which featured reindeer).

The stop at the Arctic Circle was thoroughly rewarding and something that none of us will forget for a long time. Not only this but, as we left the Arctic Circle and headed north, we were entering into the land of the midnight sun!!! It was also pleasing to see the two coach loads of tourists pulling in to see the Arctic Circle just as we were leaving...we had beaten the crowds! 

Even more exciting was the mini herd of reindeer we spotted along the road.  We continued our journey through Saltfjellet national park, a popular hiking area, but sadly did not have the time to drive to Svartisen glacier, Norway’s only glacier going into the sea. There were however snow-decked mountain peaks in every direction.

Heading north, the E6 lost altitude and entered into the more familiar tree clad valleys. The forests north are different than those south, this is because there are no spruce trees in the north.  Another change from the south was that we no longer had rain! Who knew we had to cross the Arctic circle to get sun! The lady at the hotel reception did tell us that they had had up to 27 degrees the past week, so things are looking brighter on the weather front.