Torghatten, Norway

The Torghatten Legend has it that this extraordinary hole in the rock was made by Hestmannen's arrow. One fine evening Hestmannen caught sight of Lekamøya and the seven sisters bathing in the sea near Landego. The sight alone of Lekamøya awoke a flaming desire in Hestmannen, and he decided then and there to steal her away at midnight. He mounted his horse and galloped southwards, in full armour and with his cape flung over his shoulder. The seven virgins noticed his approach and fled in full haste until they could run no more and flung themselves down on the ground near Alstahaug. But Lekamøya kept on fleeing southwards while the king of the Sømna wit mountains watched over her flight. Dawn approached with its golden clouds, and the Sømna king watched carefully as the disappointed suitor put an arrow in his bow. As the arrow winged its way from Hestmannen's bow, the king of Sømna blocked its path with his hat, saving Lekamøya from its sharp and deadly point. The hat fell to the ground by Torgar. And just at that moment the sun appeared over the horizon and everything turned to stone..

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