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ZIVA’s Home: Norway’s Awesomeness

 

Norway is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It’s home to more natural wonders than we can count and it has stunning cities, fascinating history and really happy people.

Norway’s not cheap. But it’s worth it. Here are 25 reasons why.

1. It’s actually one of the happiest places on Earth. norway In the United Nation’s 2013 World Happiness Report, Norway took the second place spot. The report surveyed 156 countries and looked at a number of factors, including life expectancy and health, freedom and social support.

2. It’s really safe. oslo The crime rate in Norway is incredibly low. The murder rate is low. The incarceration rate is low. As one wise law student once said, “happy people just don’t shoot their husbands.”

3. There’s a law called “allemannsrett.” norway hiking Allemannsrett literally translates to “all men’s rights.” It’s a “freedom to roam” public rights law that allows the right of access to and passage through all uncultivated land. This means you can pitch a tent or hike through any land that is “utmark” (non-cultivated). Also, wild-berrying is permitted everywhere. This little rule is extra awesome because there tons of jaw-droppingly beautiful places to see in Norway and few barriers stopping you.

4. Trolltunga is the perfect photo op. trolltunga Trolltunga is one of those insanely gorgeous locations.

5. So is Kjeragbolten. kjeragbolten See that boulder? You can stand on it. Where else can you hover thousands of feet above solid ground, suspended in the crevice of a mountain?

6. Even urban spaces are lush. oslo Such as Oslo, Norway’s capital. Forested hills rise above the city and there’s plenty of green space within Oslo — it’s definitely no concrete jungle.

7. Fredrikstad Fortress is an ancient wonderland. gamlebyen Fredrikstad Fortress claims to be one of the best preserved old towns in Scandinavia.

8. Fjords. fjord norway Norway’s fjords are natural wonders that just beg you to go exploring.

9. Norway produced this beauty…

10. There are adorable fisherman’s cabins. fishing cabin norway They’re everywhere! You can even stay in one, if your heart desires.

11. See the midnight sun. midnight sun norway This natural phenomenon — 24 hours of visible sun — occurs during the summer in northern Norway, which sits above the Arctic Circle. Not only is the midnight sun an incredible sight, it leaves more hours in the day for fishing, boating, climbing and exploring.

12. It’s regarded as the birthplace of skiing. norway skiing Early evidence of modern skiing has been found in Norway. The word “ski” actually comes from Old Norse and roughly translates to “split piece of wood.”

13. It has more lakes than Finland aka “The Land of 1,000 Lakes.” norway lake While Finland has more than 60,000 lakes, Norway surpasses it. There are hundreds of thousands of lakes in Norway and they’re really beautiful.

14. Hornindalsvatnet is the deepest lake in Europe. hornindal lake

15. Norway also boasts the world’s longest tunnel. lærdal road tunnel

lærdal road tunnel Lærdal road tunnel is 24.5 kilometers (15.2 miles) long. Three colorfully-lit caves separate the tunnel into four sections in order to make passing through it less stressful on the driver. The drive through the tunnel takes about 20 minutes.

16. This view from the top of Mount Fløyen in Bergen. fløibanen funicular You can take the Fløibanen funicular to the top of the mountain. Epic views are guaranteed.

17. You can see the Northern Lights. lofoten islands Head to the Lofoten Islands for a spectacular view. Needing little introduction, the Norther Lights are phenomenal and not to be missed if you are visiting Norway.

18. Two words: Wild. Reindeer. wild reindeer norway Santa can’t be far.

19. Two more words: polar bears! polar bears svalbard You can spot them on a trip to the Svalbard Islands.

20. The national drink is Aquavit. norwegian aquavit It’s a potato-based spirit flavored with herbs. It’s very potent. Most people use beer as a chaser. It’s hardcore.

21. You can ski in the middle of the summer. stryn summer ski Stryn Summer Ski Center opens in late May and welcomes skiiers through late July or mid-August depending on the snow conditions. If you get a hankering for skiing during the warm months, you know where to go.

22. Aalesund is gorgeous by day… aalesund

23. And by night. aalesund

24. Ferrying through Geirangerfjord is breathtaking. geirangerfjord

25. And finally, Norway has some 50,000 islands and a coastline that stretches over 51,600 miles. norway islands There’s more water than you could ever explore by boat. There’s more land than you could explore by foot. How could you ever be bored?


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