Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Arctic: An Anthology
, edited by Elizabeth Kolbert, brings together some of the most inspiring histor-
ical writings about the Arctic, with an emphasis on the exploration of Norwegian and other wilderness
areas.
As a result, and despite appearances, areas of true wilderness are rare in Norway. The
natural world has been greatly altered by human activities and the landscape is criss-
crossed by roads that connect remote homes, farmsteads and logging areas to more popu-
latedareas.Allbutacoupleofthecountry'smajorrivershavebeendammedforhydroelec-
tric power; many Norwegian families own holiday homes beside lakes, around ski slopes
or in areas of natural beauty; and even the wild-looking expanses of Finnmarksvidda and
the huge peninsulas that jut into the Arctic Ocean serve as vast reindeer pastures. As a res-
ult, apart from the upland icefields and Norway's impressive network of national parks (
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), real wilderness is limited to a few forested mountain areas along the Swedish
border, scattered parts of Hardangervidda and most of Svalbard.
The Future History of the Arctic
by Charles Emmerson is an engaging exploration of the politics of the
Arctic with a particular focus on the big issues of energy security, environmental protection and the ex-
ploitation of the region's natural resources.
Recycling
Norwegians strongly support sorting of household waste for collection and recycling, and
travellers are encouraged to do likewise. A mandatory deposit scheme for glass bottles and
canshasbeenasuccessandabout96%ofbeerandsoft-drinkbottlesarenowreturned.Su-
permarkets give money back forreturned aluminium cans andplastic bottles (usually Nkr1
toNkr1.50).ThereisalsoaprepaidrecyclingchargeonautomobilessoldinNorway,which
ensures that they
'
re turned into scrap metal rather than roadside eyesores when their life
is over.
Since the early 1970s, however, the average annual level of household waste generated
per person has nearly doubled to around 375kg, a rise that coincides with the golden years
of Norway's oil-fuelled prosperity boom. Despite Norway's generally impressive environ-
mental record, the reaction to this increase from governments and ordinary Norwegians
was slow - by 1992, just 9% of household waste was recycled. However, the figures have
since become a source of national pride: around 50% of household waste and two-thirds of
industrial waste is now recycled, while Norway is a world leader when it comes to recyc-
ling electrical and electronics products. Methane from waste nonetheless still accounts for
