Saami, often called the Sami, are the indigenous peoples of Scandinavia. For hundreds of years they have lived according to the rhythm of nature and its laws. They came north around 4 thousand. years ago. They breed reindeer and fish in the Arctic Ocean. They have their own culture, flag and even parliament. It is said that the Saami are the most resilient and enduring people on earth. Today he lives mostly in isolated places, which can be considered as the last wild places preserved in Europe – they are called the Land of Lights.
Going north, we observe, how the inhabitants of the passed settlements change with the changing landscape. Next to the big ones, We will meet short-haired Norwegians more and more often, dark-eyed Sami. Real travelers are sure to go to Hammerfest – the northernmost city in Europe. It is located at latitude 70 ° 39'48 ”N. Latitudinal column, which is still standing here today, stuck in during the first international measurement of the globe. In Hammerfest every year, in the third week of November, the Polar Nights Festival is organized. The period of the eternal night and the lack of sunlight is compensated for by the unusual sight of the beautiful aurora borealis. Not put off by the temperature, still going north, we will reach the destination of the trip, which is Nordkapp – North Cape located on the island of Mageroy. This name was given to him by the Englishman Richard Chancellor. In year 1533 the traveler tried to find a shorter one, Northeast road to China. Today, a modern route runs to the cape, which he overcomes annually 200 thousand. people.
It might seem, that there is nothing more. However, those, who will not succumb to these appearances, they will reach the beautiful islands of Svalbard. You have to be prepared for a really long journey – the archipelago is in fact 640 km from the mainland. It includes islands in the Arctic Sea, m.in. Spitsbergen, Wyspa Edge’a, Barents, Kvitoya, North-East Land and King Charles Land. Reaching this end of the world, we will be surprised to discover Polish accents in Spitsbergen: the mountain bearing the name of Piłsudski and the peak of Kopernikus. The steep mountains of Spitsbergen to the east gently turn into a plateau.
Sperm whales, also called monsters, they like the surroundings of the Vesteralen archipelago. From October to January they come here to eat. Whale watching tours are organized in Andenes, on the island of Andoya. Sperm whales usually inhabit warm seas, and only a few reach far north. The largest mammals even achieve 15 m in length, and the newborn is already over 4 m. They used to be a source of valuable raw materials: whale oil was a lubricant for machinery, fat for the production of soap, crayons, candles, ointments, fuel for street lamps; the sperm whale's teeth were used to make instrument keys and buttons; ambra (gastrointestinal discharge of the sperm whale) she was worth so much gold, how much she weighed herself. Perhaps that is why today the sperm whales are an endangered species.