70° NORTH, 31° EAST
70° NORTH, 31° EAST
Perched off mainland Norway’s easternmost point, Hornøya is the jewel in Varanger’s natural crown; a wild island inhabited by 80 000 seabirds, hunted by eagles and protected as a nature reserve since 1983.
Situated as far north as Point Barrow, Alaska and further east than Istanbul and Cairo; Hornøya is the last piece of Norwegian soil before the vast expanse of the Barents Sea. A visit to Hornøya is a visit to one of the wildest, most extreme places in Europe, yet it is still easily available.
Hornøya is a wildlife watcher’s paradise. Staggering numbers of seabirds cover the island, playing out their daily lives before you; a live theatre on the raw beauty of nature. Over 100 species of bird have been recorded on the island, a list which includes huge White-tailed Eagles, breeding Red-throated Pipits, 15 000 pairs of Common Guillemot and extreme rarities such as Black-throated Thrush and Lesser Short-toed Lark. Grey Seals patrol the waters and numerous species of whales and dolphins have been seen from the island, including annual sightings of Orca.