Blå Vägen mot riksgränsen

WAR MEMORIAL IN KÅTAVIKEN

During the Second World War, the farm in Kåtaviken was important for communication between resistance fighters in Norway and Sweden and the Allies. Among other things, there were radio transmitters here. Many refugees also crossed the border to Kåtaviken and freedom.

THE IMPERIAL BORDER

The present national border with Norway was drawn in 1751. Before that, most of Tärna was Norwegian. This border crossing is number 218 A, counting from Svinesund in the south. The customs office for declaring goods subject to duty is located in Tärnaby.

NORWAY

After Riksgränsen, the E12 follows the lake for another 5 km to Umbukta. Here you will find Umbukta Fjellstue, which in the late 1800s and early 1900s was an important overnight stay for Tärnaby farmers on the important supply trips to Mo i Rana. Today the building houses a café. After Umbukta, the road goes through a 3670 m long tunnel through Umskaret. The tunnel was completed in 2006 after almost 2.5 years of construction. The old road over Umskaret was closed 18 times in 2005, had 20 night closures and 28 days of column driving due to snowstorms.To get to Okstindarne, one of Northern Norway's largest and highest mountain massifs with no less than 27 glaciers, you turn west at Umskaret, ie you go up a bit after the old road that went over the mountain. Here you go around Storakervatnet, past Kjensvatnet and towards Kjensvasshyttan. From the road, about two km east of the hut, there is a path towards eastern Okstindsbreen, which after about two km reaches the glacier.

Continue E12 through the tunnel to get to Mo i Rana, a total of 100 km from Hemavan. The E12 continues along the north side of the Rana fjord to Nesna on the coast, 65 km. A possibly even more beautiful route runs along the north side of the Sjona fjord past the Stokkvågen ferry terminal, the mighty Aldersundet and out to Tonnes.