On the southwest coast of Norway, as close to British mainland as possible, there is an amphidromic point with no tidal variations. The turning of the globe,  the moon´s tidal systems in the Atlantic ocean and English channels balance each other all the time, year round, and make a point zero. Its rare, just two nautical miles outside the restored Viberodden lighthouse at Egersund.  At the same spot, there are stories of international technology triumphs , exciting war histories and wrecks.

In 1869, soon 150 years ago, all Nordic countries made a company called Store Nordiske Telegrafselskab. Its first task was to lay a telegraph cable between Peterhead in Scotland to Egersund in Norway where the distance was shortest. By using the sailship La Plata with a 130 hp steam engine, they did the 270 nm in just 48 hours! What a party the made when landing, with salutes and cheering! 
Already in 1870, the cable transferred 77 000 telegrams - because at that time the French-German war at the continent made this the only open information channel between Russia and Nordic countries. The cable was later on the reason for Egersund being the first Norwegian harbour taken by German forces in April 1940. The cable company still excists, now its called GN, (Great Nordic) and make the high tech Resound hearing aid controlled by iPhones...
The cable house was close by to the Viberodden Lighthouse at the entrance to Egersund, built in 1855 to avoid ship wreckages at this though coast. 
During the WWII the Secret Service special mtb 718 was around, transporting agents in and out. The guy who rowed them to shore, was Guy Hamilton - later director of four James Bond movies, and the great movie Battle of Britain. The same guy who helped former French president Francois Mitterand across the channel...
The wreck of famous "The Norwegian Lion" from 1666 was found in sight of the lighthouse, and a lot of dramatic battles and sea stories can be told when I have guests on the lighthouse.  

The friends of the Viberodden lighthouse have a motto: "Making friends in the world." One third of our time we give free of cost to a diversity of people, as different as possible.
We use the lighthouse as a tool. From the Duke of Westminster to Syrian refugees, Palestinians, Germans, British bands, Lithuanians - artists, writers have been there. Several music albums by French, British and Amercan citizens have been the result. 
The sea routes to Europe was the shortest and easy way. Being the biggest port for Matjes herring in Europe, the connection to the Netherlands are very close. And so it was for lobster, timber an so on.