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The archipelagos biggest islands are Austvågøy, 526 sq. km
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(203 sq. miles), Vestvågøy, 411 sq. km (159 sq. miles), Moskenesøya 186 sq. km (72 sq. miles) and Flakstadøy 110 sq. km (42 sq. miles).
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Lofoten consists of high, steep mountains and peaks, open ocean, sheltered inlets, stretches of seashore and large virgin areas. The islands rise majestically from the sea to a height of almost 1 000 m (3,281 feet), and strong tidal currents surround all the islands of Lofoten. The road Lofotveien connects the islands – except from two of the archipelagos islands, which can only be reached by helicopter, plane or boat.
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Lofoten has interesting geological features; transformed rock, which was formed approx. 3 billion years ago, is predominant and is some of the oldest rocks on the earth. The mountains of Lofoten, however, were not formed until the last Ice Age, which ended about 10,000 years ago. When the ice withdrew, rigid edges and peaks were left behind.
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Due to the warm Gulf Stream, Lofoten has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at the same latitude, such as Alaska and Greenland. The coastal climate in Lofoten makes the winters mild and the summers relatively cool. Plants usually found only in the mountains, in the fields and on the beach grow side by side along the shore. This is due to the fact that the landscape is exposed to much light and relatively cool temperatures during the
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summer, which enables the mountain plants to flourish all the way down to the coast.
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The midnight sun is visible from 27 May till 17 July. The towering mountains, with pointed peaks that reflects the red glow of the midnight sun, is a spectacular view – and one of the things that makes Lofoten one of Norway's most scenic destinations. White beaches with clear green water, and windy weather also makes Lofoten a favorite with surfers. The tourist industry is becoming increasingly important, now counting approx. 200 000 visitors per year.
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The first people came to Lofoten about 6,000 years ago. Lofoten´s Stone Age inhabitants survived on fishing and hunting in an area, which provided good living. Large pine and birch woods covered all of Lofoten at that time. There were deer, bears, wild reindeer, lynx and beavers, and the sea was full of fish, seals and whales.
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Agriculture developed early, and grain was harvested in Lofoten as early as 4,000 years ago. Agriculture is still significant to some of the areas in Lofoten, even though the number of farms has been greatly reduced in the past 30 years.
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Lofoten was already by the year 900 well known, and famous, for its rich sea life. At about this time, rumors of the fantastic winter cod fishing in the
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islands began to spread. Visiting fishermen needed accommodation, and King Øystein considered these fisheries to be of such significance that he, as early as 1103, built a church for them. In about 1120, he also built the first fishermen's cabins.
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The Gulf Stream brings many fish species from the south, and Arctic species migrate from the north. Fishing has always been the very foundation of life in Lofoten. Stockfish, produced from spawning cod, was the staple good, and it was sold to almost all of Europe.
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The winter fisheries for cod are still crucial for the settlement in Lofoten. Fishermen from all over
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North Norway take part in the Lofot Fisheries, which are based on the Norwegian Arctic cod's spawning in the Vestfjord between January and April. The Lofot Fisheries have been strictly regulated for many years, and the stocks are recovering.
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