Varangerfjord, Norway
Calm seas and delightfully mild weather graced us today as we visited the Saami people, indigenous to northern Scandinavia. After a short Zodiac ride to shore, we visited the excellent Varanger Saami Museum which focuses on the culture, history and pre-history of the Coastal Saami. Traveling through the picturesque area, we then came to the Mortensnes Cultural Site where we had a walk through time, from remains of Saami settlements dating back thousands of years to a present day sod house. Here, near the shoreline we heard Saami songs, or “joiks”.
During the middle of the day the Endeavour repositioned through a series of narrow fjords, each with its’ own unique and compelling scenery. Two white-tailed eagles were spotted fishing.
The afternoon was spent immersing ourselves in the culture of the Eastern Saami, differing substantially from what we saw this morning. Gathering in a large “lavvu”, or teepee, we were treated to some salmon and reindeer, traditional foods. Demonstrations of songs, dance and clothing, along with a presentation and question and answer session gave us insight into this fascinating group of people. We also spent time enjoying the strikingly beautiful Neiden River, visiting the only Russian Orthodox chapel in Norway and driving to the border between Norway and Russia.
Calm seas and delightfully mild weather graced us today as we visited the Saami people, indigenous to northern Scandinavia. After a short Zodiac ride to shore, we visited the excellent Varanger Saami Museum which focuses on the culture, history and pre-history of the Coastal Saami. Traveling through the picturesque area, we then came to the Mortensnes Cultural Site where we had a walk through time, from remains of Saami settlements dating back thousands of years to a present day sod house. Here, near the shoreline we heard Saami songs, or “joiks”.
During the middle of the day the Endeavour repositioned through a series of narrow fjords, each with its’ own unique and compelling scenery. Two white-tailed eagles were spotted fishing.
The afternoon was spent immersing ourselves in the culture of the Eastern Saami, differing substantially from what we saw this morning. Gathering in a large “lavvu”, or teepee, we were treated to some salmon and reindeer, traditional foods. Demonstrations of songs, dance and clothing, along with a presentation and question and answer session gave us insight into this fascinating group of people. We also spent time enjoying the strikingly beautiful Neiden River, visiting the only Russian Orthodox chapel in Norway and driving to the border between Norway and Russia.
