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the S. into the Bergsfjord, rounds the wedge-shaped island of
Silden, and stops at the station of —
16 Kil. (10 Engl. M.) Bergsfjord, where we enjoy a
magnificent mountain scene. In the background is a glacier, the
discharge of which forms a waterfall. Passing the Lørsnas, and
turning to the S.E., we next reach —
33 Kil. (20l/2 Engl. M.) Øksfjord, on the Ainas-Xjarg
peninsula. with a noble amphitheatre of mountains around it, a
conspicuous feature in which is a glacier to the W., descending from
the extensive Jøkelfjeld. A little to the N. is the small church.
The Altenfjord may be visited hence by the local steamer which plies
once weekly between Øksfjord and Hammerfest (comp. Communicationer,
No. 297, 1).
The Altenfjord is a beautiful arm of the sea, and is remarkable for
its rich vegetation, especially in its southern part (the Altenbygd). In
the annals of literature, too, it has been rendered famous by the visits
of almost all the eminent travellers and savants who have explored this
part of Norway (L. v. Buch, Prof. Forbes, and others already mentioned;
also by Keilhau, who has written a ‘Reise i Øst- og Vest-Finmarken’,
pub. 1831, and Ch. Martins, whose ‘Du Spitzberg an Sahara’ is a good
French authority).
The highest mountains on the fjord, all on the W. side, are Kaaven
(3130 ft.), between Stjernsund and Langfjord, Akkasolski (3395 ft.), between
Langfjord and Talvik, and Haldi (3030 ft.), between Talvik and the
Kaa-fjord. At the end of the fjord, above Kaafjord, rises the Kuppivarre
(2675 ft.). — On the E. side of the Altenfjord is the interesting Aarø,
with the scanty ruins of the old fort of Altenhus. The most famous
feature of the Altenfjord consists in its various old Coast-lines,
particularly near Bossekop, formed by the gradual rising of the land, some
of them upwards of 200 ft. above’the present level of the water.
The steamer steers from Øksfjord through the Stjernsund, between
the Stjerne and the mainland, passes the mouth of the Langfjord and
touches at —
Talvik (‘pine bay’), a beautiful spot, with a church; then at
Strems-nws on the Kaafjord, whence a visit may be paid to Kaafjords Kobberværk,
a copper-mine of no great value, the property of an English company.
We then reach —
Bossekop (‘whale bay’; bosso is the Lapp word for ‘whale’, or
literally ‘blower"; goppe, bay, good quarters), at the foot of the
Kongs-havnfjeld (700 ft.). Important fairs are held here on Dec. 1st and Mar.
3rd, to which hundreds of Lapps flock in their curions sledge-boats.
They bring with them reindeer flesh, butter, and game, which they
exchange for fish, flour, and groceries. Sometimes 10,000 ptarmigan are
offered for sale at a single fair. The observation-station of the
International Polar Commission of 18S2-83 was situated at Bossekop and was
entrusted to the Norwegians. — To the E. of Bossekop lie Altengaard
(telegraph-station) and Elvebakken, near the Alten-Elv, an excellent
salmon-river, and beyond them lies Rafsbotn.
The steamer then proceeds from the Altenfjord through the
Vargsund, a strait between the mainland and the islands of Stjerne and
Seiland, calling at several stations on its E. hank, the last of which is
Kvalsund. It then enters the strait between the Kvalø and Seiland, called
Strømmen, once a famous resort of whales, through which the steamboat
reaches Hammerfest.
From Bossekop or Alten, at the head of the Altenfjord, to Karasjok
and to Haparanda in Sweden, see R. 31.
Our course is now to the N., towards the mountainous Sørø,
which, as well as the Stjerne and Seiland, islands lying to the S.
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