Norway is famous for its stunning fjords and rich Viking history. However, this Scandinavian country offers much more than just beautiful scenery and ancient warriors. In fact, it is a land of unique inventions, strange laws, and delightful cultural quirks. Consequently, it consistently ranks as one of the happiest and most interesting places on Earth. Explore these fascinating details about the Land of the Midnight Sun.
Norway
A Norwegian delegation actually invented salmon sushi. In the 1980s, Norway had too much salmon and Japan had a seafood shortage. Therefore, Norwegian officials convinced Japanese chefs to use raw salmon in their traditional dish, changing sushi history forever.
The King’s Guard knighted a penguin in Scotland. Sir Nils Olav III lives at the Edinburgh Zoo and holds the rank of Major General. Periodically, the Norwegian military visits the zoo to give the bird a formal promotion ceremony.
It is technically illegal to die in the town of Longyearbyen. Because the permafrost prevents bodies from decomposing, the local graveyard stopped accepting new burials in the 1950s. Thus, terminally ill residents must fly to the mainland to spend their final days.
Norway donates a Christmas tree to London every year. This massive spruce stands in Trafalgar Square as a thank you for British support during World War II. Generously, this tradition has continued without interruption since 1947.
The country is home to a village named Hell. Ironically, this small town freezes over every single winter. Furthermore, many tourists visit the local train station just to take a picture with the unique sign.
Norwegians invented the cheese slicer. Thor Bjørklund got frustrated with cutting cheese into thick, uneven chunks with a knife. As a result, he patented the ostehøvel in 1925, which is now a staple in kitchens worldwide.
They are obsessed with “Easter Crime” novels. Every Easter, the entire nation reads mystery books or watches crime series, a tradition known as Påskekrim. Strangely, milk cartons even print short murder mysteries on their sides during the holiday season.
The Nobel Peace Prize is the only one awarded in Oslo. While all other Nobel Prizes are handed out in Stockholm, Sweden, the Peace Prize ceremony takes place in Norway. Alfred Nobel specifically requested this arrangement in his will for reasons he never explained.
Norway possesses the world’s most remote island. Bouvet Island sits alone in the South Atlantic Ocean, thousands of miles from civilization. Currently, it is an uninhabited nature reserve that is almost impossible for tourists to visit.
You can drive through the longest road tunnel in the world. The Lærdal Tunnel stretches for 15.2 miles through solid rock. Smartly, engineers installed blue lighting caves every few miles to keep drivers from hallucinating due to boredom.
The word “ski” comes from the Old Norse language. It roughly translates to “piece of wood.” Additionally, ancient rock carvings show that Norwegians have been skiing for at least 4,000 years.
Wild polar bears outnumber people on Svalbard. This archipelago is one of the few places in the world where you can see these bears in their natural habitat. Consequently, anyone traveling outside the settlements must carry a gun for protection.
Norwegians drink a staggering amount of coffee. In fact, they rank second in the world for coffee consumption per capita, trailing only Finland. On average, a typical Norwegian drinks nearly a thousand cups of coffee every year.
They pioneered the concept of “Slow TV.” National television broadcasts uninterrupted, hours-long events like a seven-hour train ride or a knitting marathon. Surprisingly, millions of people tune in to watch these relaxing, real-time programs.
Finally, the sun does not set for months in the north. During the summer, the Midnight Sun remains visible for 24 hours a day in regions above the Arctic Circle. Conversely, these same areas experience the Polar Night in winter, where the sun never rises at all.
