Saltstraumen
The world’s strongest maelstrom
The world’s strongest maelstrom
Only 33 km outside Bodø city center, you can experience the spectacular natural phenomenon that has thrilled so many
The current is created when the tide turns and flows in and out of the channel between Saltenfjorden and Skjerstadfjorden. Every six hours, massive volumes of water are set to pass through the 3km long and 150m wide channel at speeds of up to 20 knots. The small strait and the tremendous forces at play generate large eddies, which can reach up to 10 meters in diameter and 4-5 meters in depth. The current is influenced by the moon and the sun, so if you want to witness Saltstraumen at its absolute strongest, it should be visited around the days of the new- and full moon, when the difference between high and low tide is greatest.
Saltstraumen Maelstrom Calendar
Visit Saltstraumen when the current is at its strongest and admire the enormous forces of Mother Earth.
The timing for this varies from day to day, and when it is a new moon or full moon, the current is extra strong. Use the calendar below to see the specific times for the day you plan to visit Saltstraumen.
Please note that the current is strong up to an hour before and after the specified time.
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Map over Saltstraumen
Experience Saltstraumen
Saltstraumen can be experienced in many ways. Join RIB-rafting in the current, dive underwater, observe it from land or learn more about the phenomenon and the history of the place at Magic Saltstraumen experience center or the museum nearby.
Find your Saltstraumen experience here
Food & drink in Saltstraumen
In Saltstraumen you get everything from traditional Northern Norwegian fish dishes to food prepared in the authentic Stone Age style.
Accommodation in Saltstraumen
Find a place to stay in Saltstraumen here
How to get to Saltstraumen?
There are several ways to both experience and travel to Saltstraumen, whether you go on your own or as part of a guided tour.
RIB-boat from Bodø
If you want to experience Saltstraumen in RIB, there are trips starting in Bodø city center. You can book a RIB trip with both Explore Salten and Stella Polaris.
Bus
Both bus no. 200 and bus no. 300 run between Bodø center and Saltstraumen several times a day. Travel time by bus is approx. 40 minutes each way. Plan your trip on reisnordland.no or in the Travel Nordland app. Tickets for the bus can be purchased in the app Billett Nordland or with a credit card on the bus. More information about bus tickets can be found HERE.
Taxi
Bodø Taxi offers sightseeing tour round trips to Saltstraumen including 30 minutes on the attraction. Fixed price is NOK 1900, – for a normal car with room for four passengers. For more prices see link here.
Taxis can be ordered on the Taxifix app, at their website or on the phone: 07550
Car
If you drive your own car to Saltstraumen, follow the Rv80 out of Bodø center and take the road Fv17 towards Saltstraumen. Driving directions can be found HERE. Remember to check the Saltstraumen time table so that you can plan your trip based on when Saltstraumen is at its strongest.
Do you need a rental car?
Marine conservation area and an eldorado for scuba divers
Saltstraumen is known for its fantastic underwater life. Here are rich deposits of cod, pollock, halibut, anglerfish and catfish. The world’s largest pollock is caught on a fishing rod in the current, and in the area you will also find the world’s largest population of sea eagles that feed on the fish here. Because of the rich biological diversity that the tidal current brings, people have established themselves in Saltstraumen since the Stone Age. In the area you will find one of Norway’s oldest documented settlements that is 11,000 years old.
In addition to vast fishing grounds, you’ll also find ancient kelp forests, colorful anemones, shells, crustaceans, and various species of nudibranchs. The walls within the current are adorned with white and orange sea anemones and vibrant sponges. The nutrient-rich water acts like a conveyor belt, providing food for all creatures that filter the water masses. There’s no shortage of food here, but space is limited, so the bottom is covered with layers upon layers of life. For sports divers and underwater photographers, Saltstraumen is an adventure world, but diving in this current is not for beginners.
Fishing in Saltstraumen
The marine life in Saltstraumen is fragile, and it is not recommended to fish directly within the current. Every year, professional divers in the area retrieve large amounts of old fish hooks and lines from the water. Hooks from fishing get tangled in seaweed and kelp, and the bottom becomes filled with metals and swallowed hooks that pollute and pose a danger to the wildlife in the current. We recommend enjoying Saltstraumen without fishing, appreciating the stunning views and the powerful current.
If you want to fish in the area, do so away from the current, and ask locals for tips on fishing spots. This way, you can help us take care of Saltstraumen and ensure that it continues to be a paradise for wildlife both underwater and above for a long time to come. Please be aware that catching wolffish is prohibited in the Saltstraumen Marine Protected Area. Any live wolffish caught must be released back into the sea.
Frank R. Dahl
Frank R. Dahl
More attractions in Bodø & Salten
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