At 76 metres high and with 37 metre long blades there is no mistaking a wind turbine on Smøla when you see one. This small Norwegian island, surrounded by a smattering of over 5,000 other islands and islets, is home to 68 wind turbines. These turbines can power over 20,000 households, which equates to near 80,000 individuals. Smøla, however, could be powered by just one. With just over 2000 inhabitants this is a quintessential small Norwegian community where the environment and its resources takes precedence.
Whatever your standing on windpower and the lofty wind turbines, the environment of Smøla provided no shortage of interesting and insightful opportunities for us today. Anchoring in the midst of this archipelago of islands, National Geographic Orion provided a point of interest to the local Norwegians who came out in their pleasure crafts to check out this new visitor in their backyard.
We waved to the locals as we disembarked National Geographic Orion and made our way to shore on the Zodiacs where some of us enjoyed a hike with our local guide Teddy, taking in the rugged Smøla landscape, the 9-hole golf course and the soaring wind turbines as we went. Others took the opportunity to visit one of the smaller islets of Smøla and learned about what life used to be like here when the fishing industry hadn’t quite reached the height it is now at. In addition to witnessing a traditional house there was also a chance to sample the infamous waffles and brown cheese with cream and jam. It has to be tasted to be believed!
While the Norwegians do enjoy their waffles and brown cheese for breakfast it is the codfish that reigns supreme on the dinner menu and today was no exception. For those not hiking or taking in the local culture there was the option to go fishing with the locals. The bounties that returned were evident on the dinner menu this evening: Chef Lothar and his galley team had our very own morning Cod catch wonderfully prepared.
