Geography
25,000 years ago Norway was covered by ice 3-4 km thick. It took almost 18,000 years to melt. In Oslo, where Kari lives, the land has risen no less than 200 m since the Ice Age and it still rises a few millimetres each year.

Large areas of Norway consist of forests and mountains. We generally divide the country into northern and southern Norway but geographically we can refer to 4 regions. Southeast Norway contains extensive areas of forest, gentle valleys and rich arable land. In the southwest, nature is more dramatic with deep fjords penetrating 200 km or more into the heart of the country where mountain glaciers lie. The central region also has fjords and a coastline but here the mountains are more gentle and there are also extensive lowland areas. In northern Norway the landscape is a mixture of valleys, fjords, mountains and islands.

Climate
The climate in Norway varies a great deal from one region to another but the four seasons are distinct throughout the whole country. In the northernmost region, Finnmark, the temperature can vary from -52 degrees C in the winter to more than +30 degrees C in the summer. The coastal climate is one of mild winters and cool summers, while inland winters are cold and summers are hot. The warm waters of the Gulf Stream bring a mild climate to coastal areas and ensure ice-free harbours even in winter.

Natural phenomena
Tromsø, Øyvind's home town, is situated above the Arctic Circle. In the summer the Midnight Sun gives long, light nights but winter brings a period of darkness when the sun never appears above the horizon. Fortunately, it is not completely dark as the moon lights up the snow-covered landscape and the heavens are often illuminated by the Northern Lights.

Wild life
Norway has a rich animal and plant life including Europe's only wild reindeer. There are elks and roe deer in the forests and also predators such as the brown bear, the wolf, the wolverine and the lynx. There are no polar bears in Norway itself but the Svalbard archipelago has plenty. The polar bear is the largest predatory animal in Europe. The mountains and lowlands are home to many different types of birds, and millions of sea birds hatch their eggs on the ocean cliffs. Our coastal waters are full of fish, and both whales and seals are a common sight.

The fjords are underwater extentions of the Norwegian valleys. This photograph shows the Aurland fjord in western Norway.

The only herd of wild reindeer in Europe is found in Norway.

The Svalbard archipelago is home to Europe's largest beast of prey, the Polar bear.