A winter Sunday on the Oslofjord
On 31 January 2021, crowds of people swarmed onto the Oslofjord, surging across the ice in all directions. They were in groups or alone, on skates or on foot, moving slowly or quickly. Why did people flock together out on the frozen fjord that day?
A frozen fjord, at last!
For weeks on end, the cold had been biting in Eastern Norway but there had been no snow. On this last day of January, the ice was like glass – thick and safe – in many places in the inner Oslofjord. At last, it was time to go skating!
What else was there to do?
The country was in lockdown, in the midst of the pandemic. The streets were empty. Lots of people just needed to see something different from their own four walls. There weren’t many options, other than going for a walk. Many people wanted to meet up with others. Again, there weren’t many options, other than going for a walk. The result of these unique circumstances could be seen on 31 January 2021: throngs of people on the frozen fjord.
Photos as historical sources
Photos can be historical sources that tell us something about a time and a place. Maybe you already have photos of the Oslofjord on your phone that could turn out to be historical sources?
Chosen by Franziska, Site Manager (37)
Photo: Stein J. Bjørge/Aftenposten/NTB