| Norway: |
In many ways Norway is still a land of unknowns. Quiet for a
thousand years since the Vikings stamped their distinctive mark on Europe, the
country often seems more than just geographically distant nowadays. Beyond Oslo
and the famous fjords, the rest of Norway might as well be blank for all many
visitors know - and, in a manner of speaking, large parts of it are. Vast
stretches in the north and east are sparsely populated and starkly vegetated,
and it is, at times, possible to travel for hours without seeing a soul.
Despite this isolation, Norway has had a pervasive influence on the world
outside. Traditionally its inhabitants were explorers, from the Vikings - the
first Europeans to reach Greenland and North America - to more recent figures
like Amundsen, Nansen and Heyerdahl. And Norse traditions are common to many
other isolated fishing communities, not least northwest Scotland and the
Shetlands. At home, too, the Norwegian people have striven to escape the charge
of national provincialism, touting the disproportionate number of acclaimed
artists, writers and musicians (most notably Munch, Ibsen and Grieg) who have
made their mark on the wider European scene. It's also a pleasing discovery
that the great outdoors - great though it is - harbours some lively historical
towns. |
| Find out more information on Norway by
clicking on the following links: |
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Norway tourism: http://www.visitnorway.com
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