Posts Tagged Hvaler
Diving in Ytre Hvaler NP
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, News on December 21, 2010
Hvaler to get under-water nature path
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, News on December 21, 2010
Ytre Hvaler National Park has just received the green light for establishing a nature path under water. The new ‘path’ will be part of a joint Scandinavian project called the Nordic Blue Parks Project, whose aim is to offer a network of under-water ‘paths’ for divers and snorkellers. The path in the Ytre Hvaler National Park should be ready by the summer.
There will be, among other things, several information signs (anchored in cement blocks) around the wreck of the Lossen, a ship that sank in the area on Christmas Eve 1717 (more on the Lossen at www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/09/the-lossen-hvaler/).
The fauna and flora are protected in the Ytre Hvaler National Park, Europe’s first, and only, marine national park. But the project should not have any adverse effect on the local ecosystem, says Østfold fylkesmannen (the county governor).
Source: Fredriksstad Blad www.f-b.no/nyheter/lager-natursti-under-vann-1.5902688 (Norwegian only)
More info, in English, on the Nordic Blue Parks Project at www.nordicblueparks.com
Deep-water cod from Hvaler
Posted by admin in Food and drink, News on November 29, 2010
Cod caught off the coast of Hvaler, deep in the waters of the Oslofjord, has been named as best sea raw ingredient of the year at Det Norske Måltid 2010, an annual competition aiming to find, and reward, the best Norwegian products and ingredients nationwide. The jury at the Norwegian Gastronomic Institute in Stavanger, led by former Bocuse d’Or winner Bent Stiansen, were impressed with the deep water cod, which is typically caught at depths of 300-400m, because of two distinctive characteristics: its firm texture (the fish swims in strong currents) and its marked crustacean taste (it feeds on prawns).
Want to try the deep-water cod for yourself? Order direct from the producer – Fjordfisk AS, Utgårdskilen, Hvaler. www.fjordfisk.no (Norwegian only)
For Østfold products nominated last year see www.elusivemoose.eu/2009/12/top-5-%c3%b8stfold-producers/
Homlungen Lighthouse, Kirkeøy
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on November 5, 2010
Walking in Østfold: Skjærhalden, Hvaler
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on November 5, 2010
A lovely walk that starts by Hvaler Church, takes in the village of Skjærhalden, and then follows the coast in a loop back to the departure point. From the car park follow the path through the forest that runs parallel to the main road. When you get to the end and the first houses, take it left and continue on the narrow access road to Skjærhalden, the main village in the archipelago. Turn right into the village and find the stairs climbing to the rocky outcrop on your right, Kollen. From the top you will have a good view of the harbour and the surrounding area, as well as the islands of Nordre and Søndre Sandøy in the background. You will have to go down the same way you came.
Continue holding to your right (i.e. heading south), past two little marinas and following the blue and white signs for the kyststien (coastal path). After a while you will see the path going up on your right. A short climb later you will emerge over the tree line, again with great views of the sea. Just follow the blue dots that will take you past the picturesque Homlungen Lighthouse, and follow the coastline all the way to the little campsite at Døvika and eventually back to Storesand, Østfold’s largest sand beach, a short walk from your departure point. The loop takes about 3 hours to complete, including a break for a picnic. Enjoying the fresh air and not quite ready to head back home yet? Combine this walk with a walk to Rødshue, north of Storesand (see link below for details).
How to get there: From Fredrikstad follow Rv108 all the way to Kirkeøy (the island after the tunnel) until you get to a crossroad. There is a big car park here. The first 3 hours are free, but you must take a ticket at the machine and display it behind your windscreen. If you are using public transport, bus no.365 from Fredrikstad runs several times daily to Skjærhalden, and stops by the car park, on request. Ask the driver to let you off.
More info on Rødshue at www.elusivemoose.eu/2010/05/02/
Common lobster (homarus gammarus)
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on October 3, 2010
A crustacean in trouble
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on October 3, 2010
Lobsters have been fished by Norwegians for centuries. From the 1930s and until the 1960s, Norway caught more lobsters than any other country in Western Europe. Income from the lobster fishery was huge, and lobster was the main source of income for a large number of coastal fishermen, who used to catch between 700 and 1,000 tonnes of lobster a year. In 1932 alone, 1,300 tonnes of lobster (that’s around 2.8 million individuals) were caught. In the following decades, the landings amounted to around 700 to 800 tons yearly.
By the turn of the century, however, it had become obvious that over-enthusiastic harvesting had its price. Lobster stocks were at a historically low level. In 2009, a mere 50 tonnes of lobster were sold. Something had to be done, and the government intervened. In 2006 four marine protection areas were created in the Skagerrak (the strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden) to try and help rebuild Norwegian lobster stocks.
One of these lobster protections areas is located in Hvaler, in Kvernsjær (the sound between Asmaløy and Kirkøy on Hvaler, Østfold). In 2008, 30 lobsters caught here were tagged with hydro-acoustic tags. Under-water buoys receive movement data from these individuals, which will be monitored and analysed. Research should help provide scientific documentation of how rapidly a lobster stock will recover in a completely protected area.
Did you know? Lobsters live up to 60 years. An adult weighs between 3-5kg, and is about 35cm long.
The lobster fishing season in Norway lasts from 1 October until 30 November. It is only allowed to fish lobster with lobster traps. Lobsters that are less than 25cm long must be released. Likewise lobsters with roe cannot be caught. It is forbidden to use lobster traps on Sundays and at night (an hour after sunset, and until an hour before sunrise).
The Lossen, Hvaler
Posted by admin in History and architecture on September 10, 2010
Did you know that some 50 shipwrecks lie on the seabed in the Hvaler area? The most famous of them is the Danish frigate The Lossen, which sank off the island of Vesterøy on Christmas Eve 1717, after a particularly violent storm. More than half of the crew perished that day (55 of the 90 men on board) and stories about ghosts haunting the area were doing the rounds for a while afterwards. The wreck was discovered in 1962. The excavations that followed have uncovered an extensive amount of artefacts that give an excellent picture of how a frigate was equipped at that time, thus making The Lossen an important cultural heritage site.
The Lossen was built on Isegran in Fredrikstad in 1684. She was 28.7m long and 7.5m wide, with a gross tonnage of about 676 tons. She took part in several well-known battles during the Great Northern War of 1700-1721, and was under the command of renowned Norwegian/Danish officer Peter Wessel Tordenskjold when it sank.