The Saltstraumen

The Saltsraumen

Just across the Vestfjord, few kilometres east from Bodø, there is the Saltstraumen, the strongest tidal current in the world. Compared to the Moskenstraumen which is in open sea, the Saltstraumen occurs in a narrow straight between the sea and the Skjerstadfjorden 150 metre wide and 25 metre deep. The speed of the current can reach 20 knots during full moon high range tides and 400 million cubic metres of water are going through the straight at every tides. However, boats can pass the straight at the time of the inversion of the current which is published everyday in the local newspapers. The bridge across the straight has a 41 metre air clearance and connects the island of Straumøya with the mainland. In the past, without a bridge, crossing the straight was very dangerous and has caused many deaths.