Lofoten forms an archipelago of islands extending from the northwest coast of Norway into the Norwegian Sea.  Although they lie well above the Arctic Circle, between 68° and 69° north latitude, they experience mild temperatures relative to the rest of the Arctic, since their climate is moderated by the Gulf Stream’s warm ocean current extending up the Norwegian coast.  The high latitude of the islands means that in midsummer, one continuously sees the sun in the sky, while complete darkness descends in the heart of winter, remaining from early December to early January.  The landscape is rugged and dramatic; jagged mountains rear up to 1000 m high, ringed by pristine beaches, making the islands a destination for tourists seeking outdoor activities such as hiking, rock and ice climbing, surfing, cycling, bird-watching, and landscape photography. 

These islands have been a center for cod fisheries for more than 1000 years, and the locals traditionally fish during the winter months when the cod migrate south from the Barents Sea.  Though the population of the islands is only around 25,000 people, the Lofotens today attract more than a million tourists a year, which is not only creating a dramatic shift in the traditional way of life there, but is straining the capacity of the islands to sustainably accommodate such a large number of visitors.