Troms

Troms

Troms is a wild arctic playground where island roads wind through steep fjords. You find yourself in the shadow of **the Lyngen Alps** where the peaks rise straight from the cold blue water. **The region is a world of sharp light and deep snow where the northern lights dance above the mountain ridges**. It is a place of extreme beauty where the wilderness is always just outside the window. Traveling here takes you through tunnels and across bridges that connect a world of beauty. You can visit the **Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø** or hike the dramatic mountain teeth of **Senja**. The sense of freedom is absolute and the air is clear. The roads provides constant views of the Arctic Ocean and the sharp mountains that define the coast. The route takes you to the island of **Kvaløya** where the landscape is a mix of steep cliffs and turquoise water. You can find lonely beaches at Ersfjordbotn and spectacular viewpoints that look out over the sea. The scenery is raw and unedited. Troms is a destination for those who want to experience the power of the arctic and the majesty of the high north.

Troms highlights

Part of these road trips

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The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Troms

Troms is the "Gateway to the Arctic" where history is a saga of exploration and survival. For centuries the city of **Tromsø** was the last stop for polar explorers like Amundsen and Nansen before they headed into the ice. The town was filled with sealers and trappers who brought back stories of the high north and the northern lights. It was a place of high adventure where the local bars were filled with the toughest sailors in the world. Out on the islands like **Senja** and **Kvaløya** the history is tied to the ancient sea-Sami and the Norse fishermen. They lived in small turf huts and small wooden houses built in the shelter of the steep mountains. Life was dictated by the tides and the arrival of the cod which brought life to the cold fjords. This was a land where the border between the world of men and the world of spirits felt very thin during the long polar night. During the Second World War the fjords of Troms became a hiding place for the massive German battleship Tirpitz. The ship was eventually sunk by Allied bombers near Tromsø marking the end of a long and tense naval game of cat and mouse. Today the region is a center for arctic research and space science continuing the tradition of looking toward the unknown. Troms history is a story of light and dark and the bravery required to live in the far north.
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