The village is located at the northern tip of a peninsula on the island of Langøya, on the west side of the Malnesfjorden.

The habitation of Hovden, on the outermost point on a peninsula of the third-largest island in Norway (Langøya) is because of the closeness to the rich fishing banks off of the Vesterålen archipelago.

Between the northern port of Andenes and the southwestern village of Bø there are several communities along the coastline with the common denominator of the closeness to the fishing banks off the Vesterålen archipelago.

Most of the coastline has a lot of rocks and skerries, so a good harbor was of vital significance to these communities.

The Cod, gadus morhua migrate from the Barents Sea to spawn along the coast of Lofoten and have to pass Vesterålen on its way.

Hovdens location is excellent given the short way to the areas where the fish are migrating south and northbound.

From the latter part of the 19th century, we know that in the winter months there could be up to 400 fishermen[5] living on the small island across from the harbor (Holmen) and in the common landing place.

These owners had total control of the economic activities in the community, and many had a monopoly on the buying and selling of the fish caught.

This monopoly, and the fact that the investment in boats and nets became increasingly more expensive given the overall modernisation of the industry, made the fishermen dependent on the owner due to not being able to pay their debts with their income.

[7] The climate is perfect for drying fish since the temperature is seldom below −2 °C (28 °F) or above 10 °C (50 °F) in the most important months between January and May.

The North Atlantic Drift (extension of the Gulf Stream) is the reason for the mild climate.

The continental shelf rises close to shore outside Vesterålen and have an insignificant impact on the life in the sea.

No wild woods are growing as a product of high exploitation by man, sheep and goats.

Hovden is situated north of the Arctic Circle and has both the midnight sun and the winter darkness.

It has also received influence from the Sami culture along with Russian, Finnish, and Swedish culture as the migration in the northern part of the Scandinavian peninsula have been modestly restricted by state agencies until the 20th century and after the Russian Revolution.

The freshwater-supply, street lights, the local Malnes Church, and a community house were all erected this way.