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The Salt Stream in Norway - the world's strongest tidal current

Writer: Helena Bergström

The Salt Stream in Norway, or Saltstraumen as it is called in Norwegian, is the strongest tidal stream in the world. Many people come here to watch the spectacle of strong forces meeting in the water, but you can also come here to fish, dive, hike or go on boat trips.

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The Salt Stream in Norway

The world's strongest tidal current, the Salt Stream in Norway, flows between the islands of Knaplundöya and Straumöya, just south of Bodö in northern Norway. The current is created when the tide moves between the two fjords, and can reach speeds of around 40 kilometres per hour. The current is so strong that ships can only pass through at certain times of the day, about two hours after each ebb and flow. Travelling by boat at other times can be life-threatening.

Saltstraumen bro — Bridge over the Salt Stream in Norway, the world's strongest tidal stream

Grästak — Many older houses have grass roofs, and birds thrive here!

Today, the stream has been recognised as one of the world's best places for scuba diving, due to its rich wildlife and nature. And for exactly the same reason, many people like to come here to fish!

Saltströmmen i Norge — A boat on the Salt Stream in Norway

READ MORE: Things to do in Bodö - tips for experiences and excursions
READ MORE: Rib boat in Northern Norway - on a ribs safari in the Salt Stream

On a guided tour with Saltstraumen Stories

We went on a guided tour of the area with Saltstraumen Stories. It turned out that our guide, Elisabeth, is extremely knowledgeable and we heard a lot of exciting stories from the past. Back then, when everyone in the area was a fisherman, they had no choice but to learn how to deal with the tough conditions. Many went into the deep, but they also learnt how to build durable boats and how to face nature in the right way.

Saltströmmen Bodö — At Saltströmmen, south of Bodö in northern Norway.

Saltströmmen Norge — We were not alone in wanting to see the world's strongest tidal stream.

Saltströmmen Stories offers guided tours with different focuses, whether you are interested in nature, culture or perhaps war history. We got the chance to take part in a bit of everything, and heard about the day the Germans took over the area ...

We also got to try one of the local specialities, namely 'dry fish'. Drying fish was a common preservation method in the past. Today, the dried fish is rather a delicacy (i.e. quite expensive), which can be eaten, for example, as a snack with a beer.

Torrfisk — You have to beat the fish with a hammer in order to eat it.

READ MORE: Living in a lighthouse - Tranoy lighthouse in Northern Norway
READ MORE: Hiking in Northern Norway - among mountains and beaches

Magic Saltstraumen

Right next to Saltströmmen is the restaurant/centre. Magic Saltstraumen. We had a fish soup here, called "Bacalhau". If you have travelled through Portugal, you will notice that this name is common to these two countries, Norway and Portugal. It seems, if we understand correctly, that Portugal imports cod from Norway, while Norway in turn imported recipe inspiration from Portugal ...

The soup was delicious, but the best thing about Magic Saltstraumen was the way the staff treated us. Riikka and Mika, who are both from Finland and normally live in the USA and Ireland respectively, work in the restaurant in the summer. And they know how to make you feel welcome!

Magic Saltstraumen is more than just a restaurant, by the way. There is an exhibition of photos of the rich life below the surface, which is truly fascinating. You can also watch a half-hour film about the Salt Stream and the history of the area. Very interesting!

Foton av Vebjörn Karlsson visas på Magic Saltstraumen — Photographs by Vebjörn Karlsson on display at Magic Saltstraumen

There is a campsite just outside Magic Saltstraumen, but many motorhomes are also parked elsewhere, such as under the bridge over Saltströmmen. Motorhomes are very welcome in northern Norway, but it is important to respect the rules and the environment. For example, campervan owners sometimes empty their tanks all over the place, which of course causes irritation and recently led to an article in a local newspaper.

Husbilar utanför Magic Saltstraumen — Motorhomes outside Magic Saltstraumen

Beautiful landscape

We have not been able to spend much time in the area around Bodö yet, but so far we can say that our experience is that this is an incredibly beautiful place. Unfortunately, we've had a lot of rain, but you can't control the weather.

Our very first encounter with the area around Bodö? When we arrived with the hire car from the airport, we met five (!)... moose and a fox ...

Älg — Moose - photographed through the car window

Helena

22 June 2018 6:00

Norway

nature, unique nature

Helena

Administrator

30 Comments

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ReiseLinda says:

What did you think of the dry fish?

22 June 2018 - 7:34

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Interesting to try and quite ok, but not fantastic. Better with a beer maybe 😉 I've tried it long ago in Iceland, too 😉.
  
  22 June 2018 - 7:44
  
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Deciree says:

There are strong currents there, be careful not to fall in. Kjell held on to me tightly when we were där☺️Kram to you

22 June 2018 - 7:48

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  You shouldn't fall in! But beautiful to look at! 🙂
  
  22 June 2018 - 9:48
  
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Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Bacalhau they say in Bohuslän too.
It's nice to see pictures from places you've been.

22 June 2018 - 9:13

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Oh, they do? I had no idea about that. Interesting!
  
  22 June 2018 - 9:49
  
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Frank Olsen says:

Nice to see again Saltstraumen which we of course also visited when we were on our long motorbike trip. We stayed at Saltstraumen Camping.
Bacalhau... well, it doesn't exactly sound Norwegian, and it probably isn't either. It's probably borrowed from Portuguese to add a little "extra edge" to the menu.
Norway exports huge amounts of stockfish to Portugal, Spain and Italy. In Spain the dish is called Bacalao and in Italy stockfish is simply called Bacala. Enjoy your days in Norway and look forward to visiting Kjerringøy!
Hopefully the weather will be a bit better than the weather forecast says .....

22 June 2018 - 9:30

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thanks for the clarification and more information on bacalhau! That's how we understood it too. But I didn't know this about Spain and Italy. Interesting!
  
  22 June 2018 - 9:50
  
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Biggeros says:

Yes, what a beautiful landscape and nature!
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Midsummer?

22 June 2018 - 9:37

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It is stunningly beautiful! And even more beautiful in the sun (as we had this morning). Happy Midsummer!!!
  
  22 June 2018 - 9:51
  
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Johnny Friskilä says:

Nice! Did you get the chance to fish in Saltstraumen? I hope so, there is a lot of fish and fishing there is fun! I used to go there when I lived in Bodö.

Bacalao is delicious, which means it all depends on the chef who prepares it. I actually had rockfish (the semi-dried cod called kabeljo in Swedish) for lunch yesterday. Exported from Norway to Brazil, bought there and then ended up on my plate in Sweden 🙂.

22 June 2018 - 9:55

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Fishing is planned for tomorrow! 🙂 Have heard about rockfish here. I have never heard of cod actually 😉 .
  
  22 June 2018 - 14:36
  
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åsa i åsele says:

Nice pictures and good info. You are doing a good job.
Have a nice Midsummer's Eve.

22 June 2018 - 11:24

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you like our report! 🙂 Happy Midsummer!!!
  
  22 June 2018 - 14:37
  
  Reply
Rolle o Carina says:

Beautiful up there in the north!

Happy Midsummer...

22 June 2018 - 11:58

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Indeed! And thank you very much!
  
  22 June 2018 - 16:14
  
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Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

We unfortunately missed the Salt Stream when we were in Lofoten, but there is reason to go there again.
Great post with good information.
Let's hope the sun keeps up this morning.

22 June 2018 - 13:53

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you like our posts! Good to have a reason to go back to Northern Norway! 🙂
  
  22 June 2018 - 16:15
  
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Kenneth Risberg says:

Thanks for the tips. Really looking forward to get to Bodö and saltstraumen. However, it will take a few weeks but on Sunday I expect to be near the Norwegian border, around Abisko.
Right now I've set up camp just outside Storuman to celebrate some midsummer.
Just before Vilhelmina, I had to stop for a bunch of reindeer that walked calmly across the road.
Wishing you a nice midsummer in Norway!!!

22 June 2018 - 14:13

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  When reindeer cross the road, you know you are definitely heading north! Wishing you a nice midsummer celebration!
  
  22 June 2018 - 16:17
  
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BP says:

An incredibly beautiful landscape! Especially like the small houses with their grass roofs. The stream is really cool, would not want to paddle there directly if you say so.

22 June 2018 - 17:56

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I also like the houses with grass roofs 🙂 And the water probably demands its respect 😉.
  
  22 June 2018 - 21:17
  
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JoY says:

There are incredible forces in that current, a bit scary and I would never in my life go out in a boat there. To stand up on the bridge and see the power of the current is powerful. Jakob fished for the first time and of course it worked every time.
Hugs

22 June 2018 - 18:50

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad that he got a bite! 🙂 And the most important thing for boats is of course to follow rules for when you can drive and not etc!
  
  22 June 2018 - 21:18
  
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Matts Torebring says:

The tides are fascinating . We sat for two hours south of Bordeaux and watched. There were small, small rivulets at first.

22 June 2018 - 20:48

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Isn't it fascinating? 🙂
  
  22 June 2018 - 21:19
  
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Ditte says:

This is a very beautiful area as so much is in Norway. Have been here a lot as a child and teenager but would definitely travel here again.
You have had a lot of exciting things to do. And as far as the weather is concerned, that's just the way it is.
Keep up the good work.

22 June 2018 - 23:39

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Lena i Wales says:

Interesting about the tidal currents.
I live not far from where we have the second highest tidal difference in the world.

27 June 2018 - 9:36

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Ann Beutler says:

Thank you for such great travel inspiration...it will be hard to choose where to travel next summer. This seems completely irresistible!

08 October 2018 - 7:14

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Thomas says:

We are going to Bodö in July 2019. If you can decide, what do we need to see and experience?

02 June 2019 - 18:07

Reply

The Salt Stream in Norway - the world's strongest tidal current

Writer: Helena Bergström

The Salt Stream in Norway

On a guided tour with Saltstraumen Stories

Magic Saltstraumen

Beautiful landscape

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30 Comments

ReiseLinda says:

Helena says:

Deciree says:

Helena says:

Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

Frank Olsen says:

Helena says:

Biggeros says:

Helena says:

Johnny Friskilä says:

Helena says:

åsa i åsele says:

Helena says:

Rolle o Carina says:

Helena says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

Kenneth Risberg says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

JoY says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Lena i Wales says:

Ann Beutler says:

Thomas says:

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