Fishing Boats - Barents Sea

Lots of folks know that the Norwegian Coastal Voyage goes a long way North - but not so many know how far east it goes. Kirkenes is 30E, which puts it in line with both Istanbul and Cairo.

One of the big differences between either Istanbul or Cairo and Kirkenes is the temperature. Kirkenes was a cool -19C, cold enough nip your fingers and to start to hurt your nose when you breath in.

Kirkenes isn't really a great destination to have at the end of the Coastal Voyage - there are lots of shops, mostly aimed at the crew members and associated hangers-onfrom the many Russian fishing boats in the harbour but not very much else. The harbour is certainly the most interesting place in the town - alongside the active Russian fishing boats, are the impounded and rusting Russian fishing boats, and even a few boats (like the ones above) having maintenance work done.

The really cold air was creating a layer of mist above the water surface, and combined with the floating ice in the harbour gave a rather surreal feel to the place.

569/2611