“Follow the light – go north!” said the Norwegian poet Rolf Jacobsen. The wonderful light of the Norwegian summer has inspired numerous people. It also draws the visitor to fishing the Norwegian rivers, lakes and coastal areas. Norway offers some of the best and most exciting game fishing opportunities on earth. Huge Atlantic salmon, arctic char, brown trout, grayling, pike and sea trout and there are still monstrous cod, halibut, ling and saithe along the 21,000 kilometres coastal line.
North Cape = Top of the World
Norway occupies the western and northern part of the Scandinavian peninsula and shares borders with Sweden, Finland and Russia - and creates a sheltering wing for the said countries – protecting them for the harsh and punishing north and north-westerly winter blizzards. Norwegians have adapted to these conditions, arriving over 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. These early hunters and gatherers followed the glaciers as they retreated north, pursuing migratory reindeer herds. During the last millennium, Norway has developed into one of the worlds leading technology countries with a booming petroleum and technology industry – a far cry from the Vikings’ impact on history, establishing Viking settlements along their seafaring and trading routes throughout Europe, Asia and North America.
Spring
Autumn on the Alta River
Throughout the centuries Norwegians have learned to relish nature and it has become a vital ingredient in the country's national identity. Being one of the world’s leading seafaring nations since the Viking time, Norwegians have pursued the nature’s challenges ever since. Just to mentioned great explorers like, Eirik Raude, Fritjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen and Thor Heyerdahl – is enough to remind everyone about the heritage – and the continuation by modern days explorers like Børge Ousland and Erling Kagge, skiing single-handed to the North and South Poles respectively. Winter sports is another area where Norwegians excel – after all, Norwegian children are said to be born with their skis on.
Area
385,155 sq km
Population
4,525 millions (2002)
Language
Norwegian. English is
spoken by 80 per cent of the population.
Time Zone
European Central time
Currency
Norwegian krone (NOK or
Nkr.)
Visa
Visa from European
countries and USA/Canada not needed if shorter stay than 3 months.
