About Lånan – The Realm of the Eider Duck

The islands of Lånan are a world of their own, a chaos of holms and skerries and other islands moored in the sea just inside the reef. Lånan is as much above water as it is below. The wind rages, the sea rolls threateningly, but the reef to the west of the skerries reduces the force of the wildest of elements.

WORLD HERITAGE

Being a part of the islands of Vega, Lånan was added to UNESCO’s prestigious list of World Heritage natural and cultural sites on 1st July, 2004.

The committee gave the following reasons for their decision:

The Vega islands show how generations of fishermen/small holders throughout the last 1,500 years have led a way of life which has enabled them to survive in an inhospitable group of islands near the Arctic Circle. The now unique eider industry has been the main employment of the women. Featuring on the World Heritage list can therefore also be regarded as a tribute to their efforts.

WHERE AND WHAT

Geographically the area lies in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean, up near the Arctic Circle. The islands form part of the borough of Vega which is on the coast of Helgeland in the south of the county of Nordland. Lånan is 30 km north-west of Vega. Click the map!

Lånan has the largest egg and down industry in the Vega islands. All landowners have been involved in this industry in addition to fishing and some farming. So many eggs and so much down have been gleaned from the nests there that in some seasons this has been more profitable than fishing in Lofoten.

The first record of people who lived in Lånan dates from 1660, but it was probably inhabited even earlier. In far off days it lay there as a land of hope and redemption far away out there on the horizon. When it was misty the islands floated temptingly on the horizon like small castles in the air. There was fish all the year round and in the spring seabirds flocked to the surrounding holms in their thousands. They left behind them egg and down.

See the various options on how to get to Lånan.

THE HISTORY OF LÅNAN

There are seven inhabitable houses on Lånan, where there were once eight families. They lived on fishing, farming and the eider industry. The soil was shallow, so they supplemented it with seaweed. In the summer the animals were moved to the holms around Lånan to graze. The women rowed out morning and evening to do the milking. In the winter most of the men went fishing in Lofoten. The women managed as best they could. It was doubtless not always that easy. At the age of seven years the children were sent to boarding school on Skogsholmen. This was difficult for many – both parents and children shed tears as they parted. They were fourteen days away at a time, then fourteen days at home.

Left: Johanne Petrine Nilsen and Petter Johnsen – taken by the photographer Coldevin in 1913.
Right: a group photo in front of “Bakken” in July 1930.

When summer came there were many visits from friends and relations. The people of Lånan were known for their hospitality. Where there is a will, there is a way. Sometimes there was a dance on Martin or Johan’s jetty. People came from the surrounding islands and danced to the music of Gustin from Hysvær’s barrel organ. Lånan’s renowned prune compote was also served.

When electricity came to Lånan on 27th July, 1965 there were about forty inhabitants. It made life easier for the people of Lånan. The local boat called there regularly and the fishermen erected a building for cold storage. However, times changed.

Early in the seventies the majority moved to Vega or the mainland. The last left Lånan in 1980. The children who previously had to go to boarding-school on Skogsholmen, went to the mainland. People locked up their houses and Lånan was deserted. However, they continued to look after the eider ducks and each spring they came back to the eider and Lånan.

The midnight sun in the realm of the eider duck.

Today the homes of both the eider duck and people are still in good repair. In the spring, as from April, people go there to make up nests for the eider ducks and protect them from dangers. In the latter part of the summer the houses are used for holiday and recreational purposes.