DVD. Nature Wonders. 10 Minutes. The Lofotes, the Vikings who built a base here in the 9th century, called these islands in the extreme north of Europe, The Islands of the Gods. Reminiscent of the Alps, this group of islands, just off the beautiful Norwegian coast, is located between 100 and 300 kilometres north of the Polar Circle. The origins of the primeval Lofotes date back to the beginning of the earth's history and are more than 3.5 million years old. The Vestfjord played a vital part in the settlement of the islands. Since the 3rd century B.C., the settlers here survived by farming the land and breeding animals. Fishing also played an important role. As the cod of the Polar Sea migrate each year in late winter to the Vestfjord to spawn, an increasing number of fishing families now live in this area. Rocks, sandy beaches, meadows and swamps form a truly unified landscape. It is therefore hardly surprising that the landscape of the Lofotes is now so popular with the various artists who come to this region.