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Endless unspoiled wilderness
Unspoilt nature is never far away in Troms. You can hike for days in Troms without meeting anyone. This solitude is tempting for some, and others share the overwhelming scenery with friends, or even participate in an organised tour into the untouched scenery.
Did you know?
- The biggest colony of white-tailed eagles in Europe is found at the island of Nord-Fugløy
- The glacier of Øksfjordjøkelen calves directly into the fjord
- The big predators in Troms are wolf, bear, lynx and wolverine
- Chalk mountains across Troms have a particularly rich flora
- The flower of Troms County is the globe-flower (Trollius europaeus)
How can I experience nature?
Out into the islands
Islands are found in all sizes, shapes and colours along the coast of Troms. Wind-swept rocks with seal colonies, grassy islets with eider ducks nesting, steep bird cliffs and birch-clad lush gardens of Eden. The biggest islands, like Hinnøya and Senja, are like tiny continents, with mountains, valleys, rivers and fjords. They are surrounded by their own, satellite-like archipelago. Every fifth inhabitant in Troms inhabit the little, low island of Tromsø, but divers (loons) still call in bright summer nights.
How Blue Was My Fjord
The fjords cut deeply into the landscape of Troms like blue ribbons. Some of them are a mile or three long, others are pocket-sized oceans. The mountain tops mirroring into the water tend to be sharp, pointed, dark and threatening, maybe sporting the odd glacier way up there. Beneath, though, you usually find green, lush pastures and light, scenting birch forests.
A Green Heart
Rolling hills clad with light birch forests and well-tended farms form the green heart of Troms. Human activity co-exists with a rich wildlife in this most accessible of Arctic landscapes. Canoeing on quiet rivers, farm holidays and leisurely forest walks are sheer pleasures here.
Distant border mountains...
Far in the east, beyond roads and villages, you find the border mountains; rounded peaks, wide vistas towards distant horizons, untouched lakes rich in fish, wetlands rich in birdlife and the very occasional mountain refuge. Only the most outdoorsy should wander the almost invisible paths crisscrossing the borders of Norway, Finland and Sweden.