Kvitur

We are now passing Kvitur, where the landscape opens up across the inner Rombaksfjord. Near the mouth of the Sildvik River, you may notice the Sildvik hydropower station, built into the mountainside. It began operating in 1982, using water from the surrounding mountains to generate electricity. This landscape has always presented challenges for those working here. Around Kvitur, the railway passes through tunnels and protective structures built to shield the line from the steep and exposed mountainsides. And people were working in these mountains long before the power station was built. During the construction of the Ofoten Railway, hundreds of railway workers lived along the line, often in simple barracks close to the construction sites. Life could be demanding, especially through the long Arctic winters. The cooks played an essential role in these communities, preparing filling meals for large groups of workers after long days of physical labour. Food had to keep well, with salted pork, dried fish and other preserved foods among the typical supplies. For the people building the railway, these mountains were not just a workplace. For years, they were also home.