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@ Saltstraumen Bridge, Norway
Mikey Black begins his tour of "Norway". Wrap up warm!
Saltstraumen Bridge, Norway
The Saltstraumen Bridge has been in use since 1978 and is one of four bridges built in the 70s to connect the islands to each other.

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@ Lysefjord, Norway
"Quiz time, Midnight! What invention did Norway give the world that has remained practically unchanged in almost a hundred years?"
"Goodness! Er ... something to do with skiing? Skating? Swimming?" ventured Midnight.
"It was actually the cheese slice!" replied Mikey Black. "It was invented way back in 1925 by Thor Bjørklund."
Lysefjord, Norway
Our airborne pets would like to show us the view of Norway they see every day, all day. You can be certain they never get tired of gazing down at the spectacular Lyesfjord. Not to leave the land-dwelling pets out of a breath-taking experience, this area offers a hike to the top of Flørli via 4,444 wooden steps that just happen to be the world's longest wooden staircase!

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@ Sætre, Asker, Norway
"Quiz time, Po! What invention did Norway give the world that has remained practically unchanged in almost a hundred years?"
"Goodness! Er ... something to do with skiing? Skating? Swimming?" ventured Po.
"It was actually the cheese slice!" replied Mikey Black. "It was invented way back in 1925 by Thor Bjørklund."
Sætre, Asker, Norway
The name Sætre is derived from the Norse word which literally means 'place to sit' or can be understood to mean 'place of residence,' However, only 3796 Norwegians have decided to do that. Sætre is also home to the Sætreelva (Sætre River) which is an important breeding ground for sea trout and many species of seabirds.

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@ Kirkenes, Norway
"Tell me some more Viking words, Mikey Black!" invited Orpheus.
Nothing loth, Mikey Black summarised from the brochure. "Obviously they left a mark on the English language with several rather, um, violent words. For example, 'berserk' comes from berserkr, which was a 'bear-shirt'—a Viking warrior entered battle wearing no armour, just an animal skin. 'Club' from klubba, a blunt weapon. 'Gun' from the word for 'war'—gunn, 'scathe' from skaða, to injure, and 'slaughter' from slatra—to butcher. Then 'ransack' is from rannsaka—to search a house."
Orpheus sucked in a sharp breath. "Ooh! I'm assuming it means to search a house somewhat enthusiastically, Mikey Black?"
"I think that's a safe assumption, Orpheus."
Kirkenes, Norway
This small group of cabins in Kirkenes featuring large windows is often used by travelers who hope to get a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis while staying warm. Another fun attraction besides aurora viewing is the Kirkenes Snowhotel which is rebuilt from fresh snow every year. This small town is located in northeastern Norway, close to the borders of Finland and Russia.

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@ Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
"Hey, Mikey Black, when we're in Oslo we're going with a tour guide on a Jo Nesbø Detective Hole walk! I've been reading The Bat and it's unputdownable!"
Mulrey was excited. "I bought The Snowman when we arrived here. It's really awfully good!"
"Well, a lot of places in his books are real-life locations. This will be a great tour!"
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
Saint Olav’s holy shrine in the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim has been an important pilgrimage site ever since the former Viking king Olaf II was canonised in 1031, and it is still a treasured destination for pilgrims from all over the world. Before you enter as a pilgrim, you should perform the old ritual of walking around the cathedral three times."

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@ Snowy Evergreen Forest, Norway
Angus McGregor settled back in his coach seat and turned to his neighbour. "Would you like a potato crisp, Mikey Black?" he asked, opening the bright blue packet.
"Mmm, yes, please!" responded Mikey Black, and helped himself. Some happy crunching by both pets ensued.
"These are really delicious!" enthused Mikey Black. "So what does Potetgull on the packet mean?"
"I asked our tour guide earlier. It means "gold potatoes". The maker is Maarud, who make most of the crisps in Norway."
Snowy Evergreen Forest, Norway
Time to go on another winter adventure. This time it's an exhilarating snowshoe or cross-country ski trek through the pristine evergreen forest. The air is fresh and crisp and the fresh;y-fallen snow on the branches of the evergreen trees offers a beautiful image of peace and serenity.

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@ Whale Watching, Norway
"Talking of Norway's coastline," remarked Foxy, "I always remember that bit in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy where Norway's creator reveals he won an award for its design, and dwells fondly on its 'lovely crinkly edges'."
"Yes!" exclaimed Mikey Black, and he and Foxy chuckled together at the memory.
Whale Watching, Norway
The Norwegian Sea is a perfect place for whale watching all year long. Sperm whales are the most common whale spotted in the summer months. In the winter months, orcas and humpbacks can be spotted in the fjords. If you are lucky, you may also see pilot whales, minke whales, fin whales, dolphins, and killer whales.

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@ Norwegian Sea Coastline
"More trivia, Mikey Black!" announced Snowilicious. "What gift does Norway make to Britain every single year?"
"Ooh, I know this!" responded Mikey Black. "It's a Christmas tree!"
"Correct!" said Snowilicious. "It's a 65 feet (20 m) tall Norwegian spruce from an Oslo forest, usually about 50 to 60 years old. The cutting ceremony is attended by the British Ambassador and the Mayor of Oslo and after shipping to England is placed prominently in Trafalgar Square. The tree, decorated in a typical Norwegian style with white lights, provides a focal point for the carol-singing festivities that take place on the square throughout the Christmas period. After Twelfth Night the tree is converted into compost."

Norwegian Sea Coastline
One can easily get lost in their thoughts while gazing out onto the waters of the Norwegian Sea. It's easy to picture Viking ships sailing throughout and wonder what it would be like to be aboard one of them.

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@ Northern Norway Flora
"You know the author Roald Dahl, Fidelis?" remarked Mikey Black. "He was born in Wales, but his parents were Norwegian."
"I didn't know that, Mikey Black!" said Fidelis. "I always enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
"Well, it says in our tour guide that he may have taken inspiration for the book from the Norwegian Freia chocolate factory. However, the BBC have claimed he was inspired by Cadbury running tasting tests at his school in Derbyshire. Who knows?"
Northern Norway Flora
The cloudberry is a fruit native to cold climates. These are just beginning to flower and will develop into a delicious amber-colored berry, similar to a blackberry.

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@ Hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
"Quiz time, Puff! What invention did Norway give the world that has remained practically unchanged in almost a hundred years?"
"Goodness! Er ... something to do with skiing? Skating? Swimming?" ventured Puff.
"It was actually the cheese slice!" replied Mikey Black. "It was invented way back in 1925 by Thor Bjørklund."
Hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) is one of Norway's most visited and photographed locations. It towers 604 meters above the Lysefjord.

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@ How Far From Norway?
Mikey Black and Otto stopped at a confectioner's to buy Norwegian chocolate for pets back home. "This one looks lovely, Otto," remarked Mikey Black. "Freia Melkesjokolade Firkløver—hakkede hasselnøte. So we know it's milk chocolate, and taking the pictures and text together, it's called Four Leaf Clover with hacked hazelnuts!"
"I think "chopped" hazelnuts would be more accurate, Mikey Black!"
"Yes, that's what I meant!"
How Far From Norway?
These signs are always fun for the traveler to see no matter where they wander. World travelers can reminisce about their recent vacation to a place on a signpost or daydream about a place they hope to visit in the future.

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@ Idyllic Norwegian Fjord
"Did you know that Oslo, the Norwegian capital, has been the venue of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony almost every year since 1901, Gramps?" queried Mikey Black. "The other Nobel prizes in science and literature are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden."
Gramps grinned. "Yup—well, I know the physics prize ceremony is in Stockholm. The last episode of the Big Bang Theory was unforgettable!"

Idyllic Norwegian Fjord
Fjord cruises are very abundant and an excellent way to immerse oneself in the spectacular beauty of the fjords of Norway.

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@ Vøringsfossen Waterfall, Hardanger, Norway
"Hey, Sir Barkey Barksalot, it says here, 'Norway's oil and gas industry has powered the economy, but it doesn't power the nation's homes. Around 98% of Norway's domestic power usage is drawn from hydroelectric power plants.'"
"That's good going, isn't it, Mikey Black?"
Vøringsfossen Waterfall, Hardanger, Norway
Vøringsfossen Waterfall has a fall of 182 meters and cascades down from the Hardangervidda mountain plateau down into the Måbødalen valley. This waterfall is considered to be one of the most beautiful and is a popular place to visit in the Hardangerfjord region.

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@ Bryggen, Bergen, Norway
"Today's quiz question, Lunaray!" announced Mikey Black. "How many times has Norway hosted the Winter Olympics?"
Lunaray pondered. "Well, I would say more than once, at any rate!"
"Correct, Lunaray! The answer is twice: in 1952 in Oslo, and in 1994 in Lillehammer."
Bryggen, Bergen, Norway
The historic harbour area of Bergen, and one of Northern Europe’s oldest port cities. In 1350 the Hanseatic League established a “Hanseatic Office” in Bergen. These German merchants lived and worked in these long narrow rows of houses that face the harbour. The rows of houses are separated by narrow wooden passages that run parallel to the dock.

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@ Andoya, Vesteralen, Norway
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Andoya, Vesteralen, Norway
Andøya is as far north as you can get in Nordland and Vesterålen and is the 10th largest island in Norway. Andøya sits on the edge of the very deep ocean, no other place in Norway can make this claim. Just south of Andenes, the administrative center is Andøya Space Center, where they launch rockets and satellites.

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@ Ålesund Harbour, Norway.
"Look at this in our tour brochure, Mikey Black! 'Andøya Space is a rocket launch site, rocket range and spaceport on Andøya island.'"
"Wow, sounds exciting, Aria!"
Ålesund Harbour, Norway.
Ålesund is a lovely small port in Norway. The city is known for its art in Nouveau Architecture. Ålesund is the 13th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 66,258.

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@ Suitor Waterfall, Geirangerfjord, Norway
Mikey Black put down his copy of Speak Norwegian with Nonchalance looking flummoxed. "It says in here there are two versions of the Norwegian language, or rather, two written variants."
Finley glanced up from his study of Norwegian Without Nerves! and nodded. "Yes, my book says Bokmål is used by the vast majority of the country, while Nynorsk is more popular in rural areas. Never mind, Mikey Black, we can still learn the basics and some phrases—I'm sure we don't need to worry!"
Suitor Waterfall, Geirangerfjord, Norway
Are you ready for an exhilarating excursion? Then this kayak trip with an experienced guide will be perfect. You will paddle the Geirangerfjord until you reach the place where there are not one, but two, majestic waterfalls, one of which is the Suitor Waterfall, On the opposite side of the fjord is the Seven Sisters Waterfall. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the amazing beauty of the Geirangerfjord.

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@ Fiske, Norway
Mikey Black and blue sunshine stopped at a confectioner's to buy Norwegian chocolate for pets back home. "This one looks lovely, blue sunshine," remarked Mikey Black. "Freia Melkesjokolade Firkløver—hakkede hasselnøte. So we know it's milk chocolate, and taking the pictures and text together, it's called Four Leaf Clover with hacked hazelnuts!"
"I think "chopped" hazelnuts would be more accurate, Mikey Black!"
"Yes, that's what I meant!"
Fiske, Norway
Fiske is a locality in Rogaland, Norway, 33 miles south of Oslo. Fiske means, to fish, in Norwegian. Mist rises from one of the many waterways that dot the area.

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@ Spotted Nutcracker
Mikey Black unwrapped the Freia chocolate bar, offered a few squares to Sir John Dee, then thoughtfully munched a couple of squares himself. "This is delicious, Sir John Dee! Now on the wrapper, it says: Et lite stykke Norge. I wonder what that means?"
Another pet leaned over the back of his coach seat. "It means: A little piece of Norway, Mikey Black!"
Spotted Nutcracker
One of many birds you may spot around Norway. Pine seeds/nuts are the most important food source. Nutcracker couples stay together for life and both parents feed the babies and teach them how to store extra food.

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@ Kristiansand Container Port
"Hey, Rory, have you seen what the hotel has included in our packed lunch today? It's these packets of Freia Melkehjerte—adorable leaf-thin milk chocolate hearts!"
"I'm looking forward to lunch already, Mikey Black!" responded Rory.
Kristiansand Container Port
This colourful scene shows the Port of Kristiansand, one of Norway's largest and most important container terminals, located in the south of the country. The terminal is located in the very heart of the city centre of Kristiansand, and is open 24/7, 365 days a year, handling containers being transported to key European markets and worldwide. It is southern Norway`s most important transportation hub. In 2020 the port handled nearly 50,000 containers.

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@ Bjørnhollia, Rondane, Norway
Winston settled back in his coach seat and turned to his neighbour. "Would you like a potato crisp, Mikey Black?" he asked, opening the bright blue packet.
"Mmm, yes, please!" responded Mikey Black, and helped himself. Some happy crunching by both pets ensued.
"These are really delicious!" enthused Mikey Black. "So what does Potetgull on the packet mean?"
"I asked our tour guide earlier. It means "gold potatoes". The maker is Maarud, who make most of the crisps in Norway."
Bjørnhollia, Rondane, Norway
Bjørnhollia lies south in the Rondane range. The Rondane is the oldest national park in Norway and is an important habitat for wild reindeer. The Park has ten mountain peaks over 2,000 metres (6,560 ft) and is a very popular place for hikers to visit.

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@ Torghatten, Norway
"So, siema, what is unique about the restaurant at Båly in Lindesnes? That's as far south as you can get in Norway."
Seeing siema's blank look, Mikey Black said, "I'll give you a clue—its name is "Under"!"
"It's underwater!" squeaked siema.
"That's correct! It's the largest underwater restaurant in the world. It looks lovely in these pictures, doesn't it?"
Torghatten, Norway
A stunning granite dome on the island of Torget in the municipality of Brønnøy. This dome has a natural tunnel that visitors can walk through. The tunnel is 160 metres (520 ft) long, 20 metres (66 ft) wide, and 35 metres (115 ft) high and was formed during the Scandinavian Ice Age.

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@ Panorama Of Lofoten, Norway
Mikey Black and Minerva stopped at a confectioner's to buy Norwegian chocolate for pets back home. "This one looks lovely, Minerva," remarked Mikey Black. "Freia Melkesjokolade Firkløver—hakkede hasselnøte. So we know it's milk chocolate, and taking the pictures and text together, it's called Four Leaf Clover with hacked hazelnuts!"
"I think "chopped" hazelnuts would be more accurate, Mikey Black!"
"Yes, that's what I meant!"
Panorama Of Lofoten, Norway
Dramatic mountain peaks, sheltered bays, and untouched land make up this archipelago in the county of Nordland, Norway. For more than 1,000 years the islands have been the centre for cod fisheries.

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@ Hadsel Bridge, Norway
"Wow! Europe's biggest herd of wild reindeer lives here, farid! The herd roam in Europe's biggest mountain plateau. The number of wild reindeer in winter totals around 25,000, of which up to 7000 are found on Hardangervidda."
"Wow indeed, Mikey Black!"

Hadsel Bridge, Norway
The Hadsel Bridge has been in use since 1978 and is one of four bridges built in the 70s to connect the islands to each other. It was initially a toll bridge but is now there is no charge to cross.

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@ Souvenir Viking Ship
As Mikey Black's tour of "Norway" comes to an end, he receives a seasonally appropriate gift!
Winter Sky, Day
The blue and white sky of winter reminds us of the snow and shadows on the ground. A wonderful backdrop for any winter scene, or any season that calls for a delicate sky. You can fill it with birds and trees can stretch their branches outward. What wonderful scene will you create?
Souvenir Viking Ship
Don't forget to stop in the gift shop and pick up some souvenirs of your Norwegian travels. There are many to choose from, including this whimsical replica of a viking ship.
Mikey Black has completed his tour of "Norway"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour Scandinavia!