ThePaddler 104
INFORMATION WEATHER: Norway shares the same latitude as Alaska, Greenland and Siberia, but compared to these areas Norway has a pleasant climate because of the Gulf Stream. Late June to early August is when the weather is warmest and the days are long and bright. Temperatures in July and August can reach 25°C-30°C. At the same time there is hardly any humidity in the air. Sea temperatures can reach 18°C and higher, making swimming a popular pastime. The warmest and most stable weather usually occurs on the eastern side of the southern mountains, including the south coast between Mandal and Oslo. Even further north, summer temperatures are rather pleasant – sometimes reaching as high above 25°C.
http://www.visitnorway.com
NORWAY Google Map
TROLLS: Trolls are an important part of Norwegian folklore. They vary in size and appearance, but are invariably ugly and messy creatures, and always mischievous (if not downright nasty). They usually live in caves or deep in the forest, and only emerge from their hiding places after sunset - legend has it that they turn to stone upon contact with the sun. Several places in Western and Northern Norway have been named after them, such as Trollheimen, Trollstigen, Trollhatten and Trollveggen.
THE SAMI: The Sami are Norway’s indigenous people. Travel to Northern Norway to experience their culture. Learn to throw a lasso, or try reindeer sledding.
he Sami people are sometimes referred to as Lapps, but prefer to be called Samis. Their culture has been developing in Northern Scandinavia since the arrival of the first people 11,000 years ago. The Sami were at one with nature, and lived in tents (lavvo) and turf huts whilst they followed the reindeer.
Reindeer herding is still central to Sami culture, even to this day, and crucial to the subsistence of the Sami, providing meat, fur and transportation. Reindeer sledding is popular in Finnmark in winter.
MIDNIGHT SUN: During the Norwegian summer season, the sun never sets north of the Arctic Circle and for a couple of months the sun is visible 24 hours a day. The phenomenon is caused by the tilt in the Earth´s axis – an imaginary line through the planet between the north and south poles around which it rotates. As the Earth orbits the Sun, the tilt makes the North Pole face towards the Sun in summer (keeping it in sunlight even as the Earth spins) and away from it in winter (keeping it dark). Hence the continuous sunlight during the summer.
VIKINGS: The Vikings built longships and raided Europe as traders and warriors. In medieval Norway the basis for agriculture was poor. Many people lived on the coast and boat building skills were easily the best in Europe. The result was voyages of discovery, trade and brutal raids. The voyages began in the latter part of the eighth century and stretched from Greenland in the west to the Caspian Sea in the east.
GUESTHOUSE: The sea kayaking guesthouse Alice and Ruth stayed at was in their words a really great destination: http://www.havnomaden.no/sider/engelsk.html