Norway is the westernmost and northernmost of all the Nordic countries.
It lies on the Atlantic coast (Norwegian Sea), but also has an outlet in the North Sea and Barents Sea.
There is smaller territory than its neighbours Sweden and Finland, but is richer than them, as it is among the world leaders in mining and oil exports.
Black gold is extracted from the sea, but not from the land.
The capital Oslo for many years was among the most expensive cities on the planet.
Best Time to Visit Norway
The best time of year to visit Norway is the period from June to August, when are the warmest and most pleasant days.
Then you will see the nature in its best and, if you cross the Arctic Circle you will get into the subpolar climate zones and you can see the midnight sun.
The advantage to visit Norway in summer is that besides the beautiful scenery and mild weather, you can go in for skiing.
As Norway is rather north country and at the same time has very high mountains, there are many places, where snow is year round and does not melt even in July.
What to Wear in Norway
Even if you travel to Norway in the summer, will be better for you to prepare some warmer clothing, because the weather in Norway can change very quickly, especially along the ocean.
Weather
Warmest is the weather in July – about 13°C and in January rarely exceed (-18) °C.
In winter, conditions are really inhospitable.
This area is sparsely populated, and most of the population live in small villages mostly located at the bottom of the fjords.
If you decide to spend your vacation in Norway is good to know that this country has really harsh climate.
Although the strongly influence of Gulf stream to the local climate, you must be aware that Norway is located quite to the north.
The climate varies from cold in winter to a pleasant during the brief summer.
In the minds of many people, Norway is cold and dark state, but let’s not forget that most of its territory is located in temperate latitudes and here there are four distinct seasons, even if most of them to be cool – spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Daily January temperature in Oslo is about (-3) °C.
In July thermometers show usually about 20°C.
Of course, these are averages. Sometimes during the cold winter days, temperatures can drop to (-30) or (-40)!
The same goes for the summer. Sometimes, mainly in July temperature reaches even 30°C.
Best Places to Visit in Norway
Norway is the most mountainous country in Scandinavia.
The highest peak of Norway is Galdhopiggen (2470m).
The mountains are mainly along the coast and serve as a barrier to the moist air masses on their way to the eastern part of the country.
In general, as closer you are to the border with Sweden, as more stable and sunny the weather is and the influence of the Atlantic is weakening.
Norway is a wonderful place for Eco tourism and the shores of countless lakes are the ideal vacation spot for people, who want to find solitude and dream to escape from everyday stress.
One of the most exciting places of Norway is Nordkapp (North Cape).
This is the northernmost land on the mainland continental Europe.
Here in the northern part of Norway will see a large globe, which further reinforces the feeling that you have for a special place.
The best way to get here is by hire car and to stay in a hotel.
Norway infrastructure is undeniable and here is easy to drive even when everything is buried under thick snow cover.
Although this place looks like it is at the end of the world, not misleading.
Here, especially during the summer months there are many large crowds of tourists, who want to see the northern part of the continent and enjoy the midnight sun.
This, of course, is if you come here in summer.
From June to August is the best time to visit Nordkapp.
This place is situated in the county of Finnmark – the northernmost in the country.
Stryn Winter Ski
This is a small town situated at the bottom of a narrow fjord on the west coast of Norway.
Here in winter falls heavy snow that never melts in the higher parts!
Summer ski center is distanced about 20 minutes drive to the east of town.
Here at about 1600 m altitude, the snow in July is no different from the snow cover in January.
In Europe there are many places, where nature does not change notably during the year or the change is a very small and imperceptibly.
For example, in Malta the landscape during the year is almost identical.
The only difference is that in winter the grass is a little greener and has a lot of flowers, while the summer is dry.
Here in Norway, however, you will see some of the greatest contrasts of the continent. Winter is snow white and very long.
Everything is covered with fluffy snow, and radiates purity and innocence.
Spring comes late and is pretty short. Then everything comes to life.
Snow melts, trees begin to bloom and everything begins green.
Summer is greener than in any other place in Europe. The first feelings of autumn appear in August.
In the fall everything is dyed in gold and orange hues and in the air feels oppressive sense of coming debt, burden and harsh winter.
Living in Norway
Norway is a sparsely populated country. It is home to around 4.7 million people.
The capital Oslo is the largest city in the country.
There are about 600,000 people.
Norway is one of the best countries to live in the world in this respect even compete Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Norwegian towns are wonderful places to live.
Here, one could very well care for their children, provide them better future in a peaceful and clean environment.
Nature
Norway has a wild and beautiful scenery. The coastline is highly indented.
The coast is chequered with numerous fjords, which are carved by the movement of glaciers.
Water in the fjords looks dark, almost black, and the steep bank rise above it.
In this respect, the coast of Norway strongly reminiscent of the west coast of Canada, the southern coast of Chile and South Island of New Zealand.
Water surface in the Norwegian fjords is calm as a mirror.
It is so calm that mountains along the coast and the sky reflected in it.
The steep shores of the fjords are covered with dense pine and rare deciduous forests.
Around the coast there are hundreds, even thousands of small and large islands.
Norway, together with Greece are the countries with the largest number of islands in Europe.
Furthermore Norway has nice beaches, but if we must be honest, this is not the perfect place for swimming and sunbathing.
The water in the ocean rarely exceeds 17°C and that of air barely reaches 20°C in July.
Such a temperature would not have suffered easy from everybody.
Few countries could compared their beauty with Norway.
The specific nature of this north country somehow reminiscent of New Zealand.
The reason is the romantic way to combine the lakes, mountains, snowy peaks, green forests and fjords.
Besides the picturesque shores, you should not miss the beautiful mountains in the hinterland.