Discover the Magic of Scandinavia: Top 23 Fun Facts About Norway You Won't Believe!

1. Hell, Norway: A Devilishly Fun Town

If you're looking for a hot time in a frosty land, take a trip to Hell and join the devilish celebrations: Hell, Norway, boasts a population of nearly 1,500 and is home to an annual Blues festival called Blues in Hell, a charming train station for wicked photo ops, and even produced a Miss Universe, charmingly dubbed "the Beauty Queen from Hell" – a truly sinful summer destination!
Source => messynessychic.com

2. Norway's Pricey Gas and Electric Paradise

As a wise man once said, "with great fuel prices comes great responsibility": Norway has some of the most exorbitant gasoline prices worldwide, peaking at an eye-watering $2.74 per liter in June 2022. Yet, this Nordic gem remains an electric-vehicle paradise, helping it sail smoothly to one of the lowest carbon emissions rankings in the world.
Source => tradingeconomics.com

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=> Fun Facts about Sweden

3. Vikings: Ancient Grooming Enthusiasts

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest Viking of them all?": Turns out, the rugged, wild-bearded image we've conjured up of Vikings is far from the truth - recent archeological findings reveal that these ancient seafarers were quite the grooming enthusiasts with a penchant for tweezers, combs, and razors! Furthermore, they resided in extravagant halls fit for Norse royalty and enjoyed feasting on a diverse range of delicacies, including fish, elk, bear, puffin, salmon, and trout.
Source => historyextra.com

4. A "Gouda" Invention: The Cheese Slicer

Say cheese! Ever wonder why the Swiss are always smiling when it comes to their cheese? The Norwegians may just have the answer: Norwegian carpenter Thor Bjørklund invented the cheese slicer in 1925, making cheese cutting as easy as a "gouda" old time, with the patent being granted on February 27th that year. The slicer can even be used on hard Norwegian brown cheese and to create potato chips, keeping true to its promise of never leaving you feeling "blue" when it comes to cheese cutting.
Source => thornews.com

5. Norway's Wafer-y Wonky Easter Traditions

Move over, Willy Wonka, Norway's got a Wafer-y Wonky Easter: Norwegians combine their love for outdoor activities and indulging in Kvikk Lunsj chocolate bars during påskekvikk, while devouring crime fiction novels and Nordic noir TV shows in a seasonal phenomenon known as "Easter Crime" or "påskekrim," dating back almost a century to a newspaper advertisement that sparked a holiday tradition of escapades, ski trips, and mountain cabin sojourns.
Source => forbes.com

6. The Giant Paper Clip Sculpture

Next time you're feeling crushed under the weight of your paperwork, imagine that giant paper clip sculpture in Norway coming to the rescue: Standing majestically at 30 feet tall in Sandvika, it was crafted in 1989 by artist Christian Tobiesen using 15,000 steel clips, and tips the scales at an impressive 1,650 pounds!
Source => uh.edu

7. Lærdal Tunnel: Q's Engineering Dream

Move over, James Bond - Norway's Lærdal Tunnel has fancy gadgets that even Q would be proud of: As the world's longest road tunnel at 15.23 miles (24.51 km) long, it boasts refreshing mountain caves for pit stops, rumble strips to keep drivers alert, frequent "SOS" phones and fire extinguishers, as well as a cutting-edge air treatment system ensuring optimal air quality.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Brunost: Norway's Not-Quite Cheese

In a world where regular cheese just won't cut it, Brunost stands whey above the rest: This Norwegian brown cheese, not technically a cheese, is made from caramelized sugar left behind when boiling whey, a byproduct of cheese-making. It comes in a variety of flavors like Gudbrandsdalsost, fløtemysost, and geitost, which differ depending on the milk used. Traditionally, this spreadable dynamo was also flecked with farm life – made in heavy iron pots, it was a key source of iron in Norwegians' diets, though modern production in aluminum and steel vessels means that nutrient value is now toast.
Source => scandinaviastandard.com

9. The Marathon of the Midnight Sun

Move over, Energizer Bunny - there's a sun that just keeps going, and going, and going: Norway experiences up to 24 hours of sunlight in parts of its northern regions during summer, a phenomenon called the midnight sun, allowing for endless adventures in its breathtaking landscapes around Helgeland, Bodø and Salten, Lofoten and Vesterålen, Troms, Finnmark, and Svalbard. While not home to an island of eternal day (sorry, eternal night owls), this solar marathon can be witnessed for a limited time each summer season.
Source => visitnorway.com

10. Fårikålens Festdag: A Feast of Simplicity

While herding sheep and counting cabbages might sound like the premise of an indie folk song, Nordics turn this combo into a stew that leaves taste-buds pining for more: On the last Thursday of September, Norway hosts Fårikålens Festdag, a sumptuous celebration of their national dish, fårikål, made with tender layers of lamb, cabbage, whole black peppercorns, and salt, cooked into a delectable stew for about two hours – a scrumptious tribute to simplicity and flavor.
Source => northwildkitchen.com

11. Norway's Linguistic Plot Twist

When Norway faced an identity crisis, they didn't resort to funky haircuts or outrageous outfits, but rather a linguistic plot twist: The Scandinavian nation split its Norwegian language into two distinct written forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål is the linguistic go-to for nearly 85% of Norwegians, whereas the rarer Nynorsk represents 10-15% of the population, primarily in Western Norway and rural zones. As a bonus tidbit, Nordisk Film, the world's oldest production company, calls Norway home and is responsible for producing popular movies like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Source => stptrans.com

12. The Insanely Long Norwegian Coastline

Ever played "The Coast is Long" instead of "The Floor is Lava"? Norway's got you covered: Boasting a massive coastline of 103,000 kilometers, it is longer than Russia, Australia, and even the Equator, and harbors about 240,000 hidden islands. Just short of besting Canada, who holds the world's longest coastline title at 244,000 kilometers.
Source => norwegianamerican.com

13. May 17th: The Ultimate Norwegian Parade

Who needs New York's Thanksgiving Day Parade when Norway's got you marching to a different beat: On May 17th, their national day, children and graduating high school students called russ take part in parades across the country; children's parades showcase marching bands and flag-waving, while the russ parade around in decorated buses blasting music. Plus, you'll find everyone donning the traditional Norwegian costume, the bunad, to flaunt their regional roots in style.
Source => visitnorway.com

14. Jostedalsbreen: The Essential Glacial Getaway

Not feeling chill enough? Cool off in one of Norway's colossal icebox hangouts: Jostedalsbreen National Park, founded in 1991, spans a whopping 1310 square kilometers with landscapes ranging from lush valleys to icy glacier arms like the famous Briksdalsbreen and the accessible Nigardsbreen, making it an essential glacial getaway for budding climate, geology, and vegetation enthusiasts.
Source => fjordnorway.com

15. Trolltunga: A Cliffside Photo-op Adventure

For those who prefer their leisure with a side of dizzying heights and heart-stopping Instagrammable snapshots, Trolltunga provides the perfect rocky menu: This remarkable Norwegian cliff, located 700 meters above Ringedalsvatnet lake in Vestland county, was sculpted by Ice Age glaciers and offers no safety railings, drawing thousands of brave souls each year to traverse the exhilarating 27-kilometer hike and marvel at its precarious beauty.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

16. King Harald V: A Monarch's Health Odyssey

In a kingdom far, far away - where valiant rulers battle not dragons, but their own health issues - one monarch perseveres against insurmountable odds: Norway's King Harald V has undergone several surgeries and hospitalizations, including a heart valve replacement in October 2020, and recently recovered from an infection. Despite ceremonial duties, his health reigns supreme in the watchful eyes of the Norwegian realm.
Source => abcnews.go.com

17. The Nobel Peace Prize's Norwegian Connection

If the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony were an IKEA purchase, it would be curiously missing from your shopping bag once you arrived home in Sweden: the prestigious award is actually handed out in Oslo, Norway! In his will, Alfred Nobel specified that the Peace Prize should be awarded by a Norwegian committee, which today consists of five members appointed by the Norwegian Parliament. The ceremony takes place at Oslo City Hall, with Norwegian royalty, government representatives, and special guests in attendance for a truly "Nobel" affair.
Source => nobelprize.org

18. Norway's Treasure Trove: Nine UNESCO Sites

Norway: They've got Wood! The original Chip and Dale housing project, home to the oldest wooden structure, Urnes Stave Church, and not forgetting sensational fjords, rock art, sustainable fishing communities, historic mining towns, and that trendy multi-nation geodetic arc mapping project: This Nordic wonderland boasts a whopping nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, showcasing its rich cultural and natural legacy.
Source => visitnorway.com

19. The Dashing Cousin: Norway's Nordic Cross Flag

If the Nordic cross flags had a family reunion, Norway's would be the dashing cousin in a red and blue ensemble: All of the Nordic countries, including Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, sport flags with the distinct Nordic cross design, symbolizing their shared cultural heritage and unity.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

20. Norway: A Model for Sustainable Fishing

In a cod-eat-cod world where survival is the catch of the day, Norway hooks, lines, and sinkers the competition when it comes to marine conservation: By implementing strict quotas on fish harvests and seasonally closing designated spawning areas, Norway ensures the sustainability of its fish population based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
Source => thefishingdaily.com

21. Wolverines: Returning from the Brink

In a triumphant tale of homecoming rivaling any Hollywood blockbuster, the wolverines have clawed their way back to the wilds of Norway: Wolverines, once functionally extinct in southern Norway, have recolonized the Snøhetta plateau since the late 1970s, and now enjoy an expanding population primarily in the south-central region and near the Norwegian-Swedish border.
Source => wolverinefoundation.org

22. St. Olav Ways: A Nordic Pilgrimage Path

Whoever said all roads lead to Rome clearly never took a stroll through Norway: There are nine St. Olav Ways, totaling around 3,000 kilometers, all leading to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, the most important pilgrimage site in the Nordic countries since 1031 when Viking king Olav II Haraldsson was canonized.
Source => visitnorway.com

23. Vigeland Park: A Sculptor's Imaginative Legacy

When Gustav Vigeland played with rocks, they listened: Over 200 granite, bronze, and wrought iron sculptures make up his spectacular park in Oslo, Norway, which stands as a phoenix rising from the 40-year artistic labor of love. Initially intended to grace the front of Norway's Parliament, Vigeland's Fountain instead turned into the star attraction of the park, alongside showstoppers like the Monolith and the Bridge. This beautiful park gives a solid glimpse into the world of a sculptor whose passions were set in stone.
Source => vigeland.museum.no