Lofoten and Vesterålen, two groups of rock islands in northwestern Norway, in the Norwegian Sea. The Lofoten is the southern group, and the Vesterålen lie to the north. The largest islands are Hinnøya, Andøya, and Langøya in the Vesterålen and Austvågøy, Flakstadøya, Vestvågøya, and Moskenesøya in the Lofoten group. The island groups are separated from the mainland by the Vestfjorden. To the south of the Lofoten is the Maelstrom, or Moskenstraumen, a tidewater whirlpool that is famous in literature. The surrounding seas are important for cod and herring. Area, about 4044 sq km (about 1600 sq mi).