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In Norwegian sailor folklore, ''kraken'' ("the ''krake''" or "the crookie"), also known as ''horven'' (among others), is a legendary [[sea monster]] said to appear in the sea between [[Norway]] and [[Iceland]].
It is said that when fishermen row out a few miles ([[Scandinavian mile]]s (6.2 mi.)) from the coast on a hot summer's day in a calm, and according to normal calculations should find a depth of 80–100 [[fathom]]s ({{convert|140-180|m}} deep), it sometimes happens that the [[Plumb bob|plummet]] bottoms at 20–30 fathoms ({{convert|35-50|m}} deep). But in this water stand the most abundant shoals of [[cod]] and [[Common ling|lings]]. Then you can assume that the kraken lurks down there; as it is he who forms the artificial elevation of the bottom and by his secretions attracts fish there. But if those fishing notices that the kraken is rising, it is necessary to row away for all the boat can take. After a few minutes, the beast can then be seen lifting the upper part of its body above the surface of the water, which for a quarter of a mile (ca 1.5 mi.) in circumference appears as a collection of [[Skerry|skerries]], covered with swaying, seaweed-like growths. Finally, a few shining tentacles rise up in the air, increasingly thicker at the bottom, which can even appear as high as ship's masts. After a while, the kraken gives in to sinking again, and you then have to be careful not to run into the [[Whirlpool|suction vortex]] that is formed.<ref name="runeberg"/>
== First descriptions ==
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