Travel to Mo i Rana
In summer 1996, we traveled across Scandinavia by train and tent for two weeks. We took different railways north to Mo i Rana, stopping for two nights in Oslo. On the return trip, we spent one night in Trondheim and three nights in Stockholm. Finally, we crossed the Great Belt in Denmark.
I’ll begin in the north. Mo i Rana lies just south of the Arctic Circle. A taxi took us from the tourist office to the glacier - four people, 500 NOK (about 15 EUR per person in 1996).
Svartisen Glacier
Svartisen - “the black ice” - is Norway’s second-largest glacier. Located northwest of Mo i Rana and near the Atlantic, its highest point, Istinden, reaches 1,577 meters. The glacier (400 km²) is part of the Saltfjell–Svartisen National Park.
A small ferry (50 NOK, ~7 EUR in 1996) crosses the lower glacier lake. From there, a path leads over glacier-formed rocks to the upper lake, where Svartisen crashes directly into the water. A full day at the glacier is ideal - you might witness large ice chunks calving into the lake.
Stockholm
We spent several days in Stockholm on our way home. Gamla Stan, the Old Town island, is the heart of the city - situated where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. Its narrow lanes, colorful houses, and historic churches and museums make it unforgettable.
Don’t miss Stockholm’s subway stations (Tunnelbana) - many are designed as underground art galleries. Kungsträdgården station, on the blue line, is a prime example of “art in the underground.”
Link Tips
- Svartisen boat and glacier arms
- Glacier Hiking and other guided tours
- Tramway in Stockholm, Swedish website
- Svartisen at Wikipedia
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... more of Stockholm:
