On 16th September 2023, we took a long day trip across the border into Norway to Bugøynes, which sits on the southern side of the ice-sculpted fjord of Varangerfjorden. The town itself was first settled by Finnish settlers, but today is an outrageously picturesque Norwegian fishing village. Highlights of our visit were a fishing expedition where we caught huge (invasive species from Russia) King Crabs with our hands, had a sauna beside the beach followed (for me) by a quick skinny dip in the Arctic Ocean, and then a late lunch of the crabs we had caught.
Bugøynes street scene.
The old wharf in Bugøynes
Bugøynes
Bugøynes
Local residents of Bugøynes.
Bugøynes Harbour
Great Black backed gull (Larus marinus) over Bugøynes Harbour
The edge of Bugøynes Harbour.
Di with her catch.
King Crab. The crabs were introduced by the Russians into their waters near Murmansk several decades ago. They are therefore an invasive species in Norway’s Varanger Fjord, although they are now valued as a seafood. Interestingly, they travel by crawling on the seabed, where they can travel at a speed between 40 to 50 kilometres per hour.
Sorting male crabs (for eating) from female crabs (to be released).
Close encounter with a King Crab.
A seal in the waters near Bugøynes.
The edge of Varanger Fjord.
The isolated beach beside our sauna hut two and a half kilometres west of Bugøynes.
Just one lone skinny dipper on that isolated beach (me!). There's nothing like a dip in the Arctic Ocean for rapid cooling off after a sauna!
Bugøynes
Bugøynes
Bugøynes
Children's park in Bugøynes
Bugøynes wharf area.
Bugøynes.
King Crab lunch.
