Around 520 people live 100 km out to sea in the Røst archipelago, alongside one of Europe's largest sea bird colonies and one of the world's richest fish stocks.

Røstlandet

Half of the archipelago's total landmass is on the main island of Røstlandet. The island's extreme location and flat terrain, which rises to no more than 11 m at its highest, however, means there is a lot of sky on Røst. Artists from all around the world have, for generations, let themselves be inspired by the special light here and the special atmosphere among the birds, fish and people.

Perfect climate

The location, far out to sea, gives all year around temperatures above freezing, the islands at the far end of Lofoten being the northernmost place in the world with no meteorologically defined winter. Conditions here are therefore perfect during the Lofoten fishing season, in February and March, for large amounts of North East Arctic cod to be hung on racks and to be turned by the weather and wind into top quality stockfish.

Fishing is Røst's main source of income. There are, therefore, many active commercial fishermen and women and six fish landing facilities here. Other island activities include active animal rearing of sheep and cattle, trading and some service industry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Røst

Røst, therefore, uniquely combines a living fishing and agricultural society with an open and international culture.

Text: From www.rost.kommune.no, Elisabeth Johansen, Anne Cecilie Pedersen, Einar Stamnes (2018) TØRRFISK – kystkultur, kokekunst, Querini. Orkana forlag, 2018, På Røst AS.

Illustrations:
Røst was built on fishing. The registration number of this fishing boat, N-76-RT, shows that the boat is based in Nordland County (N) and in Røst Municipality (RT).
The landscape of the entire south side of the island has been formed by fishing.
The town hall and the primary and secondary school, which also houses the library, is in the middle of the island alongside a sports hall named after Querini. On the other side of the road is Røst church, the doctor's surgery and an old people's centre. An unusual amount of snow fell in January 2019 and there were frequent showers.
The sheep on Røst graze outdoors all year round, but can shelter if the weather is too hard.
Agriculture was once widespread on the north end of the island, as shown by the stone walls crisscrossing the landscape.


Translation to English: Alasdair Graham-Brown

Photo: Elisabeth Johansen