Gullsvågfjellet

Coordinates: UTM 32W 0631363 7284233 65°39’11.2’’N 11°51’22.9’’E

Primary interests: Education, Tourism

From this viewpoint, 725 m a.s.l., there is an amazing view where the typical Vega landscape, including the archipelago and the strandflat, can be seen. The radio tower at the top is a landmark for Vega, and there are remains of an old car lift to the top. This is a popular hiking destination with a marked trail.

Gullsvågfjellet is the result of the about 475 million years old intrusion of the Vega granite, leaving the erosion-resistant granite mountains in the south, perfectly positioned to protect the human settlements in the northeast from the prevailing southwesterly winds. Gullsvågfjellet, as well as Trollvasstinden and Søla, are defined as a monadnock, and this type of high and steep mountains are common along the coast.

Erratic boulders have been observed on the Gullsvågfjellet plateau and we can thus conclude that the regional ice-sheet at some time, and probably also during the last Ice Age, has covered the entire island.

The extension of the strandflat is maybe best experienced from viewpoints like this, and there are thousand small islands and skerries extending towards the horizon. It is only from this highly elevated position that one can fully appreciate the wide and shallow sea areas, having a light blue-turquoise colour.