Norway is a Scandinavian country that encompasses mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords. Oslo, the capital, is a city of green spaces and museums. In the Museum of the Vikings in Oslo, Viking ships are preserved from the 9th century. Bergen, with colorful wooden houses, is the starting point for cruises to the spectacular Sognefjord. Norway is also known for fishing, hiking and skiing, especially at Lillehammer's Olympic Resort.
Norway Capital: Oslo
Currency: Norwegian krone
Population: 5,271,958
1. Tromso
The largest city in northern Norway, Tromso is famous for both its large number of 18th century wooden houses and the beauty of its natural surroundings. Most of the city is situated on the island of Tromsoya where visitors can explore several fine museums and stroll through amazing forests of the birch tree. Travel to Storsteinen Mountain on the cable car Fjellheisen offer visitors breathtaking views of the fjords and surrounding mountains. The Arctic Aquarium Polaria and the Polar Museum are popular attractions in this city located 350 km north of the Arctic Circle. Tromso is one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis.
2. Jotunheimen National Park
Jotunheimen, or the home of the Giants, is Norway's first national park. Located in the nation's south-central region, the park encompasses several mountain ranges, including Norway's 29 highest peaks. The park is also home to Vettisfossen, which at 275 meters (900 feet) is the highest waterfall in Norway. Well-marked mountain lodges and trails in the area offer visitors easy access to glacier walks, summit tours, rock climbing and skiing. Tour companies and hiking associations offer outdoor adventures for visitors of all ages and skill level.
3. Svalbard
Svalbard is a group of islands located between the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea, the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea. The islands have been under Norwegian rule since 1920. Their settlements are the most northerly inhabited places on the planet, much further north than any part of Alaska and all but a few of the Arctic islands of Canada. The combined permanent population is less than 3,000, almost all of which are concentrated in the main settlements of Longyearbyen and Barentsburg in Spitsbergen. Visitors to Svalbard come primarily to experience Arctic nature in their rawest and more powerful. The islands feature virgin glaciers and rugged mountains, but also amazing wildlife such as polar bears, caribou, reindeer, polar foxes, whales, seals and walruses.
4. Lofoten Islands
One of the most popular places to visit in Norway, Lofoten is a group of islands in the northern part of the country. With its postcard looking at small fishing villages nestled in fjords, dotting a very rugged coastline with steep peaks rising directly from the ocean, the archipelago is often described as one of the most picturesque parts of Norway. Although the archipelago is situated well above the Arctic Circle, at about the same latitude as Greenland, it enjoys a relatively mild climate due to the circulation of the Gulf Stream. Temperatures up to 23 ° C in the summer are not uncommon although it remains a subarctic destination and the climate changes rapidly.
5. Western Fjords
Norway's famous fjords are found all over the country and are not limited to a particular region or location. However, the most dramatic and famous fjords lie largely in western Norway, approximately from Stavanger to Molde. Although the western fjords vary slightly in appearance they are generally relatively narrow, surrounded by steep rock faces, high mountains and extremely deep. The most famous fjords include Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord.
0 comments:
Post a Comment