Trollfjord

Geography

The mouth of the Trollfjord where it joins the Raftsundet is only 100 m wide. The fjord widens to a maximum width of 400 m. The mountains surrounding Trollfjord are between 600 and high. It is surrounded by the 830 m tall mountain Trollfjordtindan to the west and the 903 m tall mountain Tverrdalstindan to the north. The Trollfjord reaches a maximum depth of 65 m below sea level.

Prior to 1960, there was a waterfall at the end of Trollfjorden, but it was redirected to produce hydroelectricity at a nearby power station.

Controversy

The location of the fjord is a bit of a local controversy. In 2016, the movie Downsizing was filmed in the Trollfjord and it was advertised and discussed in the media as having been filmed in Lofoten, a traditional region of Norway. This, however, upset some in the neighboring traditional region of Vesterålen who claim the fjord as part of their region as well. Both sides claim to be right. The fjord is located on Austvågøya island (which is often considered part of Lofoten), but it is also in Hadsel Municipality (which is often considered part of Vesterålen).

History

The Battle of Trollfjord

The Battle of Trollfjord () was fought in 1890 between the first industrial, steam-driven fishing ships and teams of traditional open-boat fishermen over access to the fjord. Johan Bojer described the battle in his 1921 novel The last of the Vikings (Den siste Viking).

A painting by Gunnar Berg, Trollfjordslaget depicts The Battle at Trollfjord. The painting is currently located in the Art Galleri Gunnar Berg on the island Svinøya in Svolvær town.

Sailing into the Mousehole

In 1969 the TS Avalon, a British Rail ferry/cruise ship, sailed into the Trollfjord, nicknamed the Mousehole by Capt William Bramhill, the ship's master. It then turned 180 degrees and came out. The captain said the experience meant he "nearly gave birth to kittens". On his 1971 cruise Bramhill was relieved not to have to repeat the feat – all vessels were barred because of the danger of falling snow, ice and rocks. The Norwegian pilot, the same man as in 1969, remarked that the Avalon had the distinction of being the largest vessel to enter the fjord. Avalon had a gross register tonnage of 6,584 and 113 m long; she carried 750 passengers in her role as a ferry but fewer on cruises.

It is possible that the "largest ship" record is now held by the Azamara Journey which has a gross register tonnage of 30,277 and is 181 meters (594 feet) in length. It sailed Trollfjord to the "mousehole" on Saturday, August 2, 2025 during a 16-night Norwegian cruise that began July 28 in Edinburgh.

Media gallery

Trollfjord Norway.jpg|View of the fjord Gunnar Berg Trollfjordslaget.jpg|Trollfjordslaget (The Battle at Trollfjord) by Gunnar Berg Lofoten Trollfjord 1975.jpg|Trollfjord near Raftsund Mind the gap Trollfjorden.jpg|Hurtigruten entering the fjord Waterfall in Trollfjorden.jpg|Waterfall on the sides of the fjord

References

References

1. [https://norgeskart.no/#!?zoom=13&lon=498011.36&lat=7583424.36&project=norgeskart&layers=1001 Norgeskart], topographic map
2. (2016-08-03). "Hollywood-innspilling har utløst bitter kommunekrangel". NRK Nordland.
3. [https://books.google.com/books?id=V3dcCkbeZX4C&dq=trollfjord+%22bojer%22&pg=PA364 Frommer's Scandinavia article on Trollfjord]
4. (19 January 2013). "TS Avalon – Past and Present".
5. "Google Docs: Sign-in".