The Best of Norway - Norway - page 1

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The Best of Norway

T he “Land of the Midnight Sun” offers a special experience. Norwegians view
their scrub-covered islands, snow-crested peaks, and glacier-born fjords as sym-
bols of a wilderness culture. The majestic scenery inspired the symphonies of
Grieg, the plays of Ibsen, and the paintings of Munch. The landscape has also
shaped the Norwegians' view of themselves as pastoral dwellers in one of the
world's most splendid countrysides.
The name Norway (in Norwegian, Norge or Noreg ) is derived from Norvegr,
meaning “the way to the north.” The Vikings used the term more than 1,000
years ago to describe the shipping route along the west coast of Norway. Nor-
wegians have been seafarers since the dawn of history, so it seems natural for the
country to have a nautical name.
To the ancients, Norway was a mythical land. A journey held unspeakable
perils. Writers called the mythical land “Ultima Thule,” and feared that strange,
barbaric, even fabulous creatures inhabited it. In the 4th century B . C ., the Greek
writer Pytheas thought the laws of nature did not apply there, and said that
everything—water and earth included—floated in midair. In what may have
been an attempt to describe a snowstorm, Herodotus claimed that in Norway
feathers covered everything and constantly blew into one's face.
Norway is a land of tradition, exemplified by its rustic stave churches and its
folk dances. But Norway is also modern. This technologically advanced nation
is rich in petroleum and hydroelectric energy. Norwegians also enjoy a well-
developed national social insurance system that provides pensions, health insur-
ance, unemployment insurance, and rehabilitation assistance. The system is
financed by contributions from the insured, which makes Norway one of the
most heavily taxed nations on earth.
One of the last great natural frontiers of the world, Norway invites explo-
ration, with its steep and jagged fjords, salmon-filled rivers, glaciers, mountains,
and meadows. In the winter the shimmering aurora borealis (northern lights) are
the lure, before giving way to the midnight sun of summer.
So you won't have to exhaust yourself making difficult decisions, we've com-
piled the best deals and once-in-a-lifetime experiences in this chapter. What fol-
lows is the best of the best.

1 The Best Travel Experiences
• Enjoying Nature: Norway is one
of the last major countries of the
world where you can experience a
close encounter with nature in one
of the last partially unspoiled
wildernesses in the world. The
country extends 1,770km (1,100

miles) from south to north
(approximately the distance from
New York to Miami). Norway is
riddled with 20,000km (12,400
miles) of fjords, narrows, and
straits. It's a land of contrasts, with
soaring mountains, panoramic