Tromso

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The little fishing village on the top of the world

There is a bleakness about the approach to Skarsvag, the fishing village on top of the world, that is both beguiling and intimidating. The fjords are thunder grey. The vast imposing mountains covered only with a thin veneer of vegetation:  no trees can withstand the wind that slices across the contours. Not so long ago the community boasted its own school with the children earning pocket money by going door-to-door selling the local delicacy of cooked halibut tongue. But now there are slightly more than 50 people left. Most, like Heidi Ingerbrigtsen, have lived there all their lives. But she says that a Sami family recently a welcome addition to the community except for their reindeer herd’s penchant for grazing on her flowers. Heidi  is the enterprising wife of a local fisherman who has carved out a IMG_8433flourishing cafe and visitor centre at Skarsvag which is officially the northern-most fishing village in the world. She has raised her three children there and has seen them leave for the bright lights of Tromso and Oslo. So, while her husband still goes out fishing every day, throughout the summer Heidi welcomes visitors, particularly from the port town of Honningsvag where the Fjord cruise

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