Category: Norway

Land of the Midnight Sun

NORWAY: Kvitåvatn Fjellstoge – a mountain lodge in an area of dramatic natural beauty (UiO ISS excursion part 3)

March 13, 2017

There is only one word to describe the Kvitåvatn Fjellstoge (mountain lodge) in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Rjukan in Telemark – “Wow!” It is situated 945 meters above sea level, with fantastic views of the Kvitåvatn lake and Gaustatoppen, the highest mountain in southern Norway. Last summer, the participants of the University of … More NORWAY: Kvitåvatn Fjellstoge – a mountain lodge in an area of dramatic natural beauty (UiO ISS excursion part 3)

NORWAY: The Telemark Canal – the wonderful waterway (UiO ISS excursion part 2)

March 12, 2017

The Telemark Canal was dubbed “the 8th wonder of the world” by the rest of Europe when it was completed in 1892. It took 500 men and five years to etch it in the Norwegian mountains, running 105 kilometers from Skien to Dalen. 18 locks link several long lakes in the Skien watershed. This waterway … More NORWAY: The Telemark Canal – the wonderful waterway (UiO ISS excursion part 2)

NORWAY: Visiting the little village of Heddal in Telemark (UiO ISS excursion part 1)

March 11, 2017

Telemark is one of Norway’s 19 counties, with a unique landscape of majestic valleys and hills to offer. It is home to the largest of the remaining stave churches in Norway, the Heddal Stavkyrkje, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Rjukan and Notodden, the century old Telemark Canal, Mount Gaustatoppen where one could gaze across … More NORWAY: Visiting the little village of Heddal in Telemark (UiO ISS excursion part 1)

NORWAY: The University of Oslo Botanical Garden – making the public aware of the importance of plant diversity since 1814

March 10, 2017

The University Botanical Garden, which is part of the Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo, is the oldest botanical garden in Norway. Founded in 1814, it has promoted awareness of plant diversity and has housed more than 5, 500 species coming from the Arctic to the Tropics.  Aside from the greenhouses, there are … More NORWAY: The University of Oslo Botanical Garden – making the public aware of the importance of plant diversity since 1814

NORWAY: The Narvik War Museum and the history of warfare in northern Norway

March 9, 2017

Norway initially proclaimed neutrality during the world wars. But due to its strategic location, ie, with the ice-free port of Narvik deemed important for the transportation of iron ore from Sweden, along with its other resources, the Scandinavian country was attacked and occupied by the German troops in 1940. All this and more about the … More NORWAY: The Narvik War Museum and the history of warfare in northern Norway

NORWAY: Lofoten Islands – Of majestic fjords and the midnight sun 2

March 5, 2017

Here’s part 2 of my Lofoten experience. 😉 After getting a goodnight’s rest at Sandvika Camping, we hopped on the little boat again heading back to Ballangen. The interesting part about the boat ride, aside from seas turning scary rough as we approached Ofotfjorden, was the detour to the amazing Trollfjorden. Named after the famous Norwegian character, … More NORWAY: Lofoten Islands – Of majestic fjords and the midnight sun 2

NORWAY: Lofoten Islands – Of majestic fjords and the midnight sun 1

March 4, 2017

When I said that Norway is nature’s paradise, I meant it. 😉 This entry is part 1 of my experience in Lofoten Islands in the Nordland region two summers ago. Lofoten is an archipelago famous for its majestic fjords, picturesque scenery, dramatic mountains and peaks and rich wildlife. It lies in the Arctic Circle, making … More NORWAY: Lofoten Islands – Of majestic fjords and the midnight sun 1