The main islands of Lofoten were not connected by road until 1960. The arrival of the just 4.5m wide road led to major change and development in this community of islanders. For visitors it offers a spectacular journey through dramatic ever changing landscapes, light and weather.

Every winter there are avalanches at Finnbyen, and the new road and defenses were born out of the need for a road that would stay open and not regularly get closed for up to 24 hours at a time for snow clearance.