Oslo Fjord

The Oslofjord reaches north from the Skagerrak toward Oslo, narrowing at Drøbak before opening into the inner fjord. Ships carried timber out through these waters and brought goods to the towns along their shores. Drøbak became an important loading place: large sailing ships found the approach to Christiania difficult, especially when winter ice covered the inner fjord. In 1643 a blockhouse was completed on the Kaholmen islands to guard the narrow passage.