Garden On Ona Fantastic Island of Ona

While it is true I am very partial to Norway, the island of Ona would captivate most travelers seeking a quiet, remote and exotic location to visit. I say "exotic" because it is unique as a travel destination. My parents were both born in Molde Norway and immigrated to the U.S. in 1950. I was born in Seattle but have journeyed back to Norway four times with my parents and four times with my family or with just my wife. My wife is always thrilled to visit Norway,my second homeland, especially since all my remaining relatives treat us like honored guests every time we see them. We have travelled much of Norway but there are always a few special places we will remember the rest of our lives. Ona Island is one such place.

On our most recent trip to Norway in August of 2013, we ventured to the Island of Ona with two of my closest Norwegian cousins and one of their husbands. It took a long ferry cruise since this remote island is located a considerable distance to the west into the Atlantic Ocean. Actually two smaller islands are combined together to be called Ona and inhabited by only about 40 people. Livelihoods had been based on the fishing industry which has been gradually diminishing over the last 50 years. The island population still fishes but is now mostly a tourist destination though the island can only accommodate a few hundred people at any one time. There is a famous cast iron lighthouse, seen in this photo, built in 1867 which is located at the top of the island's 130 foot high cliff known as Onakalven. Automated in 1971 the lighthouse still uses the original Fresnel lens. A thousand years ago the island was occupied by Vikings and a cemetery on the southeast side of the island has many unmarked Viking grave stones.

While the two islands can be entirely walked in just a couple of hours, I have included a link to a YouTube drone video fly-over from 2013 of beautiful Ona Island that takes just a few minutes to watch. Sit back, relax and follow the link at: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISs8mr4kd9s

The drone used for this video is quad-prop equipped with an ImmersionRC/Fatshark transmitter and uses a "GoPro Hero 2" HD camera. The drone is controlled from the speed boat you'll see in the video. All credit is given to the makers of this video for a fine job. The background song is performed by a Norwegian artist named Kari Bremnes. Beautiful.

My photo? Oh yeah, taken with a hand-held Nikon D800, 16mm lens, shot at 1/25, f/14 with the ISO at 250, no flash was used.