Introduction to Norway
The "Land of the Midnight Sun" offers a special experience. Norwegians view their scrub-covered islands, snow-crested peaks, and glacier-born fjords as symbols of a wilderness culture. The majestic scenery inspired the symphonies of Grieg, the plays of Ibsen, and the paintings of Munch. The landscape has also shaped the Norwegians' view of themselves as pastoral dwellers in one of the world's most splendid countrysides.
The name Norway (in Norwegian, Norge or Noreg) is derived from Norvegr, meaning "the way to the north." The Vikings used the term more than 1,000 years ago to describe the shipping route along the west coast of Norway. Norwegians have been seafarers since the dawn of history, so it seems natural for the country to have a nautical name.
To the ancients, Norway was a mythical land. A journey held unspeakable perils. Writers called the mythical land "Ultima Thule," and feared that strange, barbaric, even fabulous creatures inhabited it. In the 4th century B.C., the Greek writer Pytheas thought the laws of nature did not apply there, and said that everything -- water and earth included -- floated in midair. In what may have been an attempt to describe a snowstorm, Herodotus claimed that in Norway feathers covered everything and constantly blew into one's face.
Norway is a land of tradition, exemplified by its rustic stave churches and its folk dances. But Norway is also modern. This technologically advanced nation is rich in petroleum and hydroelectric energy. Norwegians also enjoy a well-developed national social insurance system that provides pensions, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and rehabilitation assistance. The system is financed by contributions from the insured, which makes Norway one of the most heavily taxed nations on earth.
One of the last great natural frontiers of the world, Norway invites exploration, with its steep and jagged fjords, salmon-filled rivers, glaciers, mountains, and meadows. In the winter the shimmering aurora borealis (northern lights) are the lure, before giving way to the midnight sun of summer.
