The scene
At 70 degrees north, where Norway's coast frays into fjords, islands and skerries, Alta is a true blast of the Arctic. A two-hour flight from Oslo, one of the world's most northerly towns takes 'wild' to a new level. Here, the Northern Lights rave above snowy fells all winter long, while the midnight sun burns in summer. Porpoises, dolphins and whales splash in frigid waters and the indigenous Sámi people herd reindeer on the stark tundra. And whether you're fishing the fjord for enormous king crab, listening to the crackle of a campfire or peering up at stars blinking in night skies, this is nature with the volume turned up to max.
History runs long and deep, too. At the Alta Museum, there are late-Stone Age petroglyphs etched into the cliffs. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, some of these abstract carvings and paintings date back 7,000 years, with extraordinary depictions of hunters, fishermen, reindeer and elk.
The rafting adventure
Dit verhaal komt uit de April 2025 editie van National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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Dit verhaal komt uit de April 2025 editie van National Geographic Traveller (UK).
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Al abonnee? Inloggen
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