Lofoten through the lens

Often the winding road will take a sharp corner and reveal a small fishing settlement or town that has managed to weather hundreds of years of harsh winter sea storms.

The red fisherman's rorbuer, or, cottages, are an unofficial symbol of Lofoten and some are open for travelers to stay.

The fishing industry in Lofoten dates back almost 1000 years and is still a strong source of income for the region. Bags of stokfisk (dried fish pieces) like these, weighing 15 kilos each, can sell for 2,250 kroner per one.

Hundreds - if not thousands - of fish drying racks cover Lofoten and are used between February and November to dry millions of kilos of fish. Lofoten's spring and fall keep ideal temperatures for fish drying - between 0 and 4 degrees C most days.

Another popular tourist activity is a visit to the blacksmith of Sund, Tor-Vegard Mørkved, who makes the oldest souvenirs in Lofoten: wrought iron cormorants. In the off season he can take a break from bird making and take on some other projects like this mouth harp.

Many of Lofoten's finest displays of craftsmanship are still well used today. The Kabelvåg Cathedral in Lofoten, built in 1898, is the largest wooden structure in northern Norway and, even before it was built, the spot has been frequented by fishermen for over 900 years who would pray for safety and a good catch before the fishing season began.

The countryside of Lofoten can make for an scenic drive or an exciting hike at any time of the year.

Arctic surfing, swimming or sea kayaking in the sandy bays cut into the rocks is a popular, year-round pastime for tourists and locals in Lofoten.

But under the winter sky and with the rorbuer, fishing racks and mountains lit up by northern lights, Lofoten looks pristine and faraway from the rest of the world.