Surrounded by 7 mountains, Bergen is an attractive town on the west coast of Norway. It is the ideal starting point for fjord tours and fjord cruises. The world famous waterfront – Bryggen with its unique architecture is listed by UNESCO as one of the world’s most significant examples of the history and culture of a medieval settlement. Today, Bryggen is a fascinating place of active workshops. Many of the remaining 58 buildings are now used as artists’ studios where painters, weavers and craftsmen produce fine-quality, original items.

The Svalbard Archipelago lies north than Alaska and is northernmost part of the kingdom of Norway, lying about half way to North Pole. There are three large islands in the Svalbard Archipelago – Spitzbergen, Nordaustlandet and Edgeoya and the Gulf Stream current sink close to them. The islands are rugged and desolate, with around 60 per cent of the land covered with glaciation. Photo by: Paul Zizka

The mountains there look like steep piles of rubble, with peaks jutting out of all angles. Some are covered in snow all year round, there are no trees on the islands, but the warm season brings many Arctic flower into bloom, make parts of the islands into colorful meadows. Photo by: _Zinni_

Being so far north, Svalbard gets the midnight sun from 20 April to 23 August, although the sun itself may be hidden by fog. The polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all, is from 26 October to 15 February. Most visitors stay away during this period, unless they are there to see the Northern Lights. Photo by: _Zinni_

Most visitors come there to explore the raw climate, see the midnight sun and try their luck at some of the exciting  activities – snowmobile trips, kayaking, ice cave exploration, dog-sleding, skiing and horse riding. The tourist board organize many tours and activities, some of which include one or more nights of wilderness camping. Anyone staying outside the main settlement is required to carry a rifle, and know how to use it.

When to go: April to August. How to get there: Fly from Oslo or Tromso to Longyearbyen, or go on an organized cruise. Photo by: _Zinni_

The Pearl of Oresund is a tiny dot in the spirit between Sweden and Denmark, 8 km off the Danish coast and just 4.3 km from Sweden. It is only 7.5 sq km, a shelf that slopes downward south to north from its highest point at 45 m just 5 m above sea level. The island is incredibly fertile farmland with rich clay topsoil on layers of shifting sand and clay. Photo by: bjaglin

When you go ashore from the ferry at Backviken, the grassy slopes of the celebrated Backfall cliffs rise straight out of the sea 40 m high, giving amazing views over the Oresund to the Danish and Swedish coasts. Kyrkbacken, the oldest and largest harbour with yachting marina, is a pretty village with a fish smokery. There are sand beaches near both harbours. Photo by: joningic

Ven is lovely island for camping and cycling holidays. Paths cut through the fields and copses so that you can wander freely everywhere. Coastal walks take you along some hair-raising cliff tops where you will see dramatic landslips and down to curious rocky shores full of marine life. Artists and craftmen have been attracted there by the inspiring anture and peaceful atmosphere. The bucolic surroundings, sea views, lively harbours, and sense of history make it an ideal palce for anyone seeking a relaxing island break. Photo by: WanderingJapanese

When to go: May to September. Population: 371. How to get there: Ferry from Landskrona on the Swidish mainland several times a day, and from Helsingborg and Copenhagen in the summer only. You should know: Bikes can be hired on the island, so there is no need to travel with one. Photo by: michal_kozlowski

Lying just inside the Arctic Circle west of Norway are the Lofoten Islands, a chain of fabulous mountainous islands with wooded hillsides and lovely white sandy bays. There are five main islands in the group: Austvagoy, Gimsoya, Vestvagoy, Flakstadoya and Moskenesoya and three smaller ones. Although the islands are so far north, they enjoy a fairly mild climate due to the Gulf Stream. Photo by: joepvanwyk

The islands are ideal for hiking and cycling. Lofoten also offer unique rock climbing with Alpine-style ridges, summits and glaciers. The islands feature some magnificent caves, awe-inspiring to even the most well-travelled visitors. At 50m high and 115 m deep, Refsvikhula Cave is all the more interesting because of the enigmatic characters. The oldest-known Stone Age settlement in Lofoten has been discovered here. Photo by: swissfotopia

Visitors also come to the Lofoten Islands for off-shore activities. The rich water support vast colonies of breeding seabirds, including puffins, kittiwakes, razobills, red-necked phalaropes and Arctic terns, as well as white-tailed sea eagles. The infamous Maelstrom, one of the world’s strongest tidal currents, lies just off the coast. The Maelstrom has been renowned and respected by seafarers for thousand of years. Nowadays boat trips and fishing expeditions pass through the area so visitors can experience the sheer thrill of it. Photo by: patrick_london

When to go: Late May to early July for the Midnight Sun; the best weather is from April to September. Population: 23,700. How to get there: By ferry or air from Bodo, ferry from Navil or by boat via Navik. You should know: The sun does not rise for weeks in midwinter. Photo by: little_frank

Fjords are found only in high latitudes, in the mountainous western coast of Norway, where glaciers are fed or are fed by heavy snowfalls, down to the sea in ancient river valleys or along faults. For the rock glacier followed by sinking land and rising sea levels, leading to flooding of the valleys. In some cases, deepening valleys and glaciers lasted below sea level. Some fjords coasts are densely dismembered to narrow and deep cross straits, which are very convenient inland waterways communications.

Each fiord has the unique landscape and the color of water, with its own characteristics and attractions. For instance the Geyranger is famous for its highest and most picturesque waterfalls. Sogn-fiord is the most longest fiord in the world, stretches for 204 kilometers into the country and at 1308 meters water depth. The entire perimeter of fjords, has beautiful waterfalls and monuments.

At Lise-fjords with a huge rock Prekestulen, also known as  “platform” or “chair” – with the majestic cliffs, you can enjoy a splendid view, and the most daring, go to the very edge of the rocks. These amazing natural formations has numerous islands and secluded coves, waterfalls, cascades, hiding in the fjords, just perfect for the trip by boat or ship.

Here we allow you to get close up to some of the most dramatic mountain road – Trollstigen, which is no doubt the most renowned piece of road in Norway. The road climbs from the deep Isterdalen valley to the Stigrora plateau – 858 meters above sea level, including 11 distinct hairpin bends. At the top there is a restaurant and museum, exhibiting photos of the road and details about its construction.

Trollstigen was opened in July 1936, after a construction period of 8 years. And even today it’s a good example of the engineering. The road is closed in the winter and opens in late May or early June, depending on snow conditions.

Walkers can enjoy the breathtaking views of spectacular landscape, surrounded by alpine summits. Norway offers a vide variety of experiences, including fjords, mountains, islands, rivers and waterfalls. It’s one of Norway’s top tourist attractions – a mountain pass where the road ascends in many sharp curves like a giant snake. It’s the most photographed place in Norway…

It is an activity that employs a parachute or the sequenced use of a wing suit and parachute to jump from fixed objects. “BASE” is an acronym that stands for the four categories of objects from which one can jump: Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth. The most famous BASE jumping bridge is the New River Gorge Bridge, WV. Earth refers to large natural formations – cliffs, canyons, fjords and gorges. The mountains of Romsdalen, Berserker and Eikesdalen, Norway are some of the best places in the world for base jumping. Base Jumping is in the Guinness Record book and is currently held by Glenn Singleman and Heather Swan with a jump from Meru Peak in northern India at a starting elevation of 6,604 m.

These two rocks are called Meoto Iwa, situated just off the coast of Mie, Japan. The rocks are meant to signify marriage. The larger one is male and the smaller one female. The rope which connects the rocks weights over a ton and is changed during the year due to various ceremonies.

This rock is called Kjeragbolten, situated between the walls of a mountain crevice in Norway. The rock is often spot by tourists for a crafty photograph while attempting not to look down at the 3000ft. I’m very surprised of the sheep in the picture.

This rock has the shape of a bugger and also is a member of the Brimham Rocks family in North Yorkshire, 50 acres of strange rock formations visited regularly by members of the public.

The picture displays Kyaiktiyo Pagoda rock situated in Burma. According to locals the rock was  placed on the cliff edge by spirits and the Pagoda resting on top apparently contains a hair belonging to the Buddha.

This impressive Mushroom Rock is situated in the North Atlantic Ocean and also the most isolated part of the British Isles. Numerous landings have been made on the rock and various disputes have arisen over its ownership, a matter which is still unresolved.

I couldn’t find much information about this attractive rock, but I was really glad when I found it. All I know is that the rock is named Piedra del Penol and you have to pay to get to the top and that the stairway that sits in the rock’s crevice must have been an absolute ball-ache to construct.

Aurland is a small town in Sogn og Fjordane, one of the larger fjords on the West Coast of Norway. The city is three hours drive from Bergen, Norway’s second largest city. The place has attracted people from all over the world.

It was also called ”640m over Aurland and 20120km from Tokyo”.

The landscape there is so fantastic. There’s a small parking area for 2 buses and 10 cars, to help keep the place pure. The construction is a bridge, that everyone can  go onto as if walking in the air.

The structure is 4 m wide, 30m long and 9m high out at the very end. To make the place even more dramatic people can come out in the air. The pine trees are kept and tourists can walk out into the open space through the treetops, which dramatise the experience of nature and the larger landscape room.

This wonderful bird-watching tower is situated in old leftover road bend in Norway with a spectacular view from the wild ocean and mountains of Eggum in the west.

After taking off from the main road, you pass through the site to reach the parking space. From east to west the 60m long-wall is cut into the ground and separates the parking area from the rest area, the sun and the view.

The rest area is constructed to give space for several buss loads of people. At the same time comfort and quiet is given to other travelers resting and eating. The sheltering wall is made of a steel construction covered with wooden laths and boards.

The horizontal direction of the wooden laths continues, and with cuts and folds, they are turned into tables and benches.

In Norway, just above the Arctic Circle you can golfing during the night. Because the sun is out all night during the summer and the golfers hitting around….

 

The “Land of the Midnight Sun” offers a special experience. Norwegians view their scrub-covered islands, snow-crested peaks, and glacier-born fjords as symbols of a wilderness culture.

 

The landscape has also shaped the Norwegians’ view of themselves as pastoral dwellers in one of the world’s most splendid countrysides.

 

While you are golfing at one of the best golf clubs in Europe, you will experience the Midnight Sun at the Arctic Circle: This is one of the major reasons visitors go to Norway. The Arctic Circle marks the boundary of the midnight sun of the Arctic summer and the sunless winters of the north.

 

The midnight sun can be seen from the middle of May until the end of July. The Arctic Circle cuts across Norway south of Bodø. Bus excursions from that city visit the circle. The adventurous few who arrive in the winter miss the midnight sun, but are treated to a spectacular display of the aurora borealis, the flaming spectacle of the Arctic winter sky.In ancient times, when the aurora could be seen farther south, people thought it was an omen of disaster.

Petter Dass Museum in Norway is not just an ordinary museum. It’s a project, which include a landscape plan (park), parking facilities and a service building. All of these are creep into an old rock surface.

The museum is awesome, because the building is integrated with the landscape. The transparent walls of the museum ground floor emphasize this relationship between the landscape and the building. At both ends there’re large glass surfaces, offering views towards a church and the blue sky.

The museum itself represents the present and links Petter Dass’s achievements to our time, 300 years after his death.

Petter Dass is one of Norways most important and beloved National poets. He was also the Vicar at Alstahaug church from 1689 until his death in 1707.