a large group of islands off the N.W. coast of Norway, stretching N.E. to S.W. from N. Lat. 67° 30. to 69° 30., and E. Long. 12. to 16. 30. The group resembles the vertebrae of an animal in form; the islands fitting into each other so closely, that from a distance they seem to form one long continent. The islands, which are all of a granite or limestone formation, are precipitous and very lofty; the hills of Vaagoe rising almost perpendicularly to a height of 4000 feet above the sea. The channels which separate them are narrow, tortuous, and generally of great depth. The largest islands of the group are in the N., viz., Hindoel, Andoel, and Langoe; the first being separated from the mainland by a passage about a mile in width. The tail of the chain is formed of a number of smaller islands, the chief of which are the two Vangoes, Moskerösoe, Väroel, and Rost, separated from the mainland by West Fiord. This gulf is much dreaded by mariners when the wind is S.W., on account of the great swell which rolls in from the North Sea, and which is especially dangerous at the Mälstrom channel between Väroel and Moskerösoe. The mean temperature of the group ranges from 23° in winter to 50° in summer, which, considering the high latitude, is comparatively mild. This is caused, however, by the exposure of the group to the gulf stream. Large shoals of herring and cod frequent the Lofodens annually, and attract to these islands a large LOGAN, concourse of fishing-boats from several hundreds of miles of sea-coast. In the inclement months of February and March, generally about 3000 boats (mostly open) assemble here for the cod-fishing, each having, on an average, five of a crew, while the aggregate number of fish taken amounts to more than three millions. These are chiefly dried in the sun and wind, without salt, and sent to Tromsoe, Trondhjem, Bergen, &c., along with large quantities of cod-liver oil and cod-roe, for exportation or home consumption. The cod-fishery ends in April, and is followed by the herring-fishing, which is carried on till the boisterous season at the end of autumn. The permanent population of the Lofodens is very small, considering the extent of territory, and is sustained principally by the fisheries. Some cattle, however, are kept in the most sheltered parts of the island, where good pasturage is obtained in the summer. Steilo, in the island of Ulvo, is the chief village of the group, and has communication with the ports of the mainland by means of a steamer, which visits the Lofodens in summer. Estimated pop. of group, 4000.