Norway is dominated by fjords and mountains, stretching more than 2.000 km / 1240 mi from north to south. Sparsely populated, many regions are almost completely isolated, especially in the winter. The wild landscapes are awe-inspiring. In summer, the invigorating midnight sun burns, and in winter, the vast reaches of snow are wrapped in silence. More reserved than the Danish, Norwegians are a courageous people who have mastered a sometimes hostile environment by building numerous tunnels and daring bridges.

They are famous for their efficient network of ferries, which includes the famous Coastal Express (Hurtigruten). Skiing was invented in the county of Telemark, and this sport is essential to the Norwegian people as cycling is to the Danes. The great explorers Nansen, Amundsen and Heyerdahl have maintained the tradition of their dashing forebears, the Vikings, who set out across the ocean to discover new lands. In the arts, the independent, reserved yet passionate and sensitive Norwegian character has been reflected by playwright Henrik Ibsen, composer Edvard Grieg and painter Edvard Munch.