23 interesting facts about Norway

23 interesting facts about Norway

From polar adventures to famous penguins, we take a look at the most interesting facts about Norway

Norway may be the best country in the world - it's certainly one of our favorites. It seems to have everything going for it. Not only is it a beautiful country full of stunning wildlife, nature and the Northern Lights, it is also home to one of the most progressive and open societies in the world.

Add in a compelling story full of Vikings, conquest and exploration and I'm sold. I'd move there in a heartbeat if only it wasn't so expensive (and that Kia might have something to say about the cold).

In short, we love the country - that's why we keep going back. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the most interesting facts about Norway that we learned along the way.

Interesting facts about Norway

1. Der Norweger Roald Amundsen erreichte als erster Mensch den Südpol in der Antarktis. Amundsen und vier Gefährten erreichten am 14. Dezember 1911 den Südpol. (Quelle: National Geographic)

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1. Norwegen hat den Human Development Index der Vereinten Nationen von 2001 bis 2011 in neun von elf Fällen angeführt. In den anderen beiden Jahren (2007 und 2008) belegte es hinter Island den zweiten Platz. (Quelle: UN Development Programme)
2. Hornindalsvatnet in Norwegen ist Europas tiefster See. Es erreicht eine maximale Tiefe von 514 m (1.686 Fuß). (Quelle: VisitNorway)

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1. Roald Amundsen war auch der Erste, der die Nordwestpassage ausschließlich per Schiff eroberte. Mit einer sechsköpfigen Besatzung durchquerte Amundsen die Passage in einer dreijährigen Reise von 1903 bis 1906. Die Schiffe, die Amundsen auf seinen Expeditionen benutzte, die Fram und die Gjøa, sind im Fram Museum in Oslo zu sehen. (Quelle: Royal Museums Greenwich)

2. Norway is the birthplace of skiing and predates the sport in Switzerland and Austria. The word “ski” is a Nordic word, skīth, meaning “piece of wood.” (Source: Merriam-Webster)

3. Wild camping in Norway is anchored in the Allemannsretten (the right to freedom of movement) - and therefore my most interesting fact about Norway! The traditional right of access has been maintained since ancient times and has also been part of the open-air recreation law since 1957. I love it! (Source: The Guardian)

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1. Norwegen steht im Verdacht, über den weltweit größten Staatsfonds zu verfügen, dessen Wert bis 2020 auf 1 Billion US-Dollar geschätzt wird. Es ist der siebtgrößte Ölexporteur der Welt und hat der Versuchung widerstanden, sein Vermögen zu verschwenden, und sich stattdessen dafür entschieden, den überschüssigen Reichtum in seinen Fonds zu investieren Ölfonds. (Quelle: BBC)

2. To encourage Norwegian men to care for their children, a 10-week paternity leave quota is reserved for them. In Norway, 90% of fathers take at least 12 weeks of paternity leave, known as pappapermisjon. (Source: The Guardian)

3. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded annually in Oslo since 1901. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes, the others being awarded in recognition of academic achievements in chemistry, physics, medicine and literature. (Source: Nobelprize.org)

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1. Rund 98-99 % des norwegischen Stroms stammt aus Wasserkraftwerken. 1991 war es eines der ersten Länder, das eine Kohlenstoffsteuer einführte, um die globale Erwärmung zu verlangsamen. (Quelle: Economist)

2. Norway's coastline is huge at 25,148 km (15,626 miles). If you include the islands, it becomes an incredible 58,133 km (36,122 miles). It is the longest coastline in Europe (excluding Russia) and the eighth longest in the world. (Source: CIA Factbook)

3. The mascot and colonel of the Norwegian Royal Guard is a penguin named Nils Olav (Brigadier Sir Nils Olav, to be precise). Sir Nils lives at the zoo in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was initially given the rank of vise corporal (lance corporal) in 1961. Since then, he has been promoted every time the Kingsguard visited the zoo. (Source: The Telegraph)

4. Norway is home to the prison island of Bastoey, an open prison where inmates can freely wander through forests, fields and beaches. (Source: BBC)

5. The Lærdal Tunnel in Norway is the longest road tunnel in the world at 24.5 km. The journey through the tunnel takes 20 minutes and uses blue and yellow lighting to replicate the sunrise to keep riders calm. (Source: Telegraph)

6. The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square in London comes from Oslo, Norway. The city has sent a tree every year since 1947 as a token of gratitude for Britain's support during the Second World War. The Norwegian royal family and government lived in exile in London from 1940 to 1945. (Source: Gov.uk)

7. The Sami people have traditionally inhabited the Arctic region of Norway. The Sami are an indigenous people who were historically nomadic reindeer herders. (Source: Britannica)

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1. Norwegen hat mehr Medaillen bei Olympischen Winterspielen gewonnen als jedes andere Land. Insgesamt hat das Land 329 Medaillen (118 Gold) gewonnen – deutlich mehr als jede andere Nation. Norwegen ist auch eine von nur drei Nationen (zusammen mit Österreich und Liechtenstein), die bei den Winterspielen mehr Medaillen gewonnen haben als bei den Sommerspielen. (Quelle: Olympic.org)

2. Although demand for whale meat is low in Norway, the country continues to defy a global ban on commercial whaling, along with Japan and Iceland. Not cool, Norway. Not cool. (Source: National Geographic)

3. Vikings came from Norway, Denmark and Sweden. The name “Viking” comes from a language called “Old Norse” and means “a pirate raid.” Those who raided in ships were known as “Going Vikings.” (Source: BBC)

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1. Vinnufossen in Norwegen ist mit 860 m Europas höchster Wasserfall und der sechsthöchste der Welt. (Quelle: Wikipedia)

2. It is forbidden to die in the Arctic town of Longyearbyen in Norway's Spitsbergen. The town's small cemetery stopped accepting bodies 70 years ago after they were found not to be decomposing. Those who are terminally ill or actually die are transported to another area of ​​Norway. (Source: BBC)

3. In 1947, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl crossed the Pacific Ocean on Kon Tiki, a rudimentary raft made of balsa wood. Heyerdahl and his men sailed over 6,900 km (4,300 miles) of the Pacific Ocean for 101 days. (Source: New York Times)

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1. Norwegen ist die Heimat des größten Gletschers auf dem europäischen Festland. Der Jostedalsbreen-Gletscher bedeckt 474 km2. (Quelle: VisitNorway)

For more interesting facts about Norway, check out the Lonely Planet Guide to Norway.

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