| Trollfjord | |
| Other Name: | Trollfjorden |
| Location: | Nordland county, Norway |
| Caption Map: | Interactive map of the fjord |
| Basin Countries: | Norway |
| Coords: | 68.3628°N 14.9361°W |
| Type: | Fjord |
| Width: | 600mto1100mm (2,000feetto3,600feetm) |
The Trollfjord or Trollfjorden is a fjord in Hadsel Municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The 2km (01miles) long fjord cuts into the island of Austvågøya and flows out into the Raftsundet strait. The fjord has a narrow entrance and steep-sided mountains surrounding it. The name is derived from troll, a figure from Norse mythology.
The fjord is a popular tourist attraction due to the beauty of its natural setting. It is only accessible by boat or by a nearby hike over very rugged terrain. The Hurtigruten's ships on the route between Bergen and Kirkenes detour into Trollfjorden. It is also popular with other cruise lines.
The mouth of the Trollfjord where it joins the Raftsundet is only wide. The fjord widens to a maximum width of . The mountains surrounding Trollfjord are between 600and high. It is surrounded by the 1084m (3,556feet) tall mountain Trolltindan to the south and the 998m (3,274feet) tall mountain Blåfjell and the 980m (3,220feet) tall mountain Litlkorsnestinden to the north. The Trollfjord reaches a maximum depth of below sea level.[1]
Prior to 1960, there was a waterfall at the end of Trollfjorden, but it was redirected to produce hydroelectricity at a nearby power station.
The location of the fjord is a bit of a local controversy. In 2016, the movie Downsizing was filmed in the Trollfjord and it was advertised and discussed in the media as having been filmed in Lofoten, a traditional region of Norway. This, however, upset some in the neighboring traditional region of Vesterålen who claim the fjord as part of their region as well. Both sides claim to be right. The fjord is located on Austvågøya island (which is often considered part of Lofoten), but it is also in Hadsel 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 novel The last of the Vikings (Norwegian: Den siste Viking).
A painting by Gunnar 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 a gross register tonnage of 6,584 and long; she carried 750 passengers in her role as a ferry but fewer on cruises. It is likely that the "largest ship" record is now held by the MS Otto Sverdrup (formerly MS Finnmarken) which had a gross register tonnage of 15,690 and it was long.