| Trollfjord | |
|---|---|
| Trollfjorden | |
 View of the fjord | |
| Location | Nordland county, Norway |
| Coordinates | 68°21′46″N14°56′10″E / 68.3628°N 14.9361°E /68.3628; 14.9361 |
| Type | Fjord |
| Basin countries | Norway |
| Max. length | 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 600 to 1,100 m (2,000 to 3,600 ft) |
| Max. depth | 72 metres (236 ft) |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of the fjord | |
TheTrollfjord orTrollfjorden is afjord inHadsel Municipality inNordland county,Norway. The 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) long fjord cuts into the island ofAustvågøya and flows out into theRaftsundet strait. The fjord has a narrow entrance and steep-sided mountains surrounding it. The name is derived fromtroll, a figure fromNorse mythology.
The fjord is a populartourist attraction due to the beauty of its natural setting. It is only accessible by boat or by a nearby 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) hike over very rugged terrain. TheHurtigruten's ships on the route betweenBergen andKirkenes detour into Trollfjorden. It is also popular with othercruise lines.
The mouth of the Trollfjord where it joins theRaftsundet is only 100 metres (330 ft) wide. Thefjord widens to a maximum width of 400 metres (1,300 ft). The mountains surrounding Trollfjord are between 600 and 900 metres (2,000 and 3,000 ft) high. It is surrounded by the 830-metre (2,720 ft) tall mountain Trollfjordtindan to the west and the 903-metre (2,963 ft) tall mountain Tverrdalstindan to the north. The Trollfjord reaches a maximum depth of 65 metres (213 ft) below sea level.[1]
Prior to 1960, there was awaterfall at the end of Trollfjorden, but it was redirected to producehydroelectricity at a nearby power station.
The location of the fjord is a bit of a local controversy. In 2016, the movieDownsizing was filmed in the Trollfjord and it was advertised and discussed in the media as having been filmed inLofoten, a traditional region of Norway. This, however, upset some in the neighboring traditional region ofVesterålen who claim the fjord as part of their region as well. Both sides claim to be right. The fjord is located onAustvågøya island (which is often considered part of Lofoten), but it is also inHadsel Municipality (which is often considered part of Vesterålen).[2]
The Battle of Trollfjord (Norwegian:Trollfjordslaget) was fought in 1890 between the first industrial, steam-driven fishing ships and teams of traditional open-boat fishermen over access to the fjord.Johan Bojer described the battle in his 1921 novelThe last of the Vikings (Den siste Viking).
A painting byGunnar Berg,Trollfjordslaget depicts The Battle at Trollfjord. The painting is currently located in the Art Galleri Gunnar Berg on the island Svinøya in Svolvær town.[3]
In 1969 the TS Avalon,[4] a British Rail ferry/cruise ship, sailed into the Trollfjord, nicknamed the Mousehole by Capt William Bramhill, the ship's master. It then turned 180 degrees and came out. The captain said the experience meant he "nearly gave birth to kittens".[5] On his 1971 cruise Bramhill was relieved not to have to repeat the feat – all vessels were barred because of the danger of falling snow, ice and rocks. The Norwegian pilot, the same man as in 1969, remarked that the Avalon had the distinction of being the largest vessel to enter the fjord. Avalon had agross register tonnage of 6,584 and 113 metres (371 ft) long; she carried 750 passengers in her role as a ferry but fewer on cruises.
It is possible that the "largest ship" record is now held by the Azamara Journey which has agross register tonnage of 30,277 and is 181 meters (594 feet) in length. It sailed Trollfjord to the "mousehole" on Saturday, August 2, 2025 during a 16-night Norwegian cruise that began July 28 in Edinburgh.
