From Sweden to Russia

In the south, Norway’s coastline begins at the border with Sweden, in the region of Østfold, in the very south-eastern corner of the country.

From there, it moves around the Oslofjord, and down towards Norway’s southernmost tip, Lindesnes.

From Lindesnes, the coastline begins its long and winding journey northwards, to the wild and spectacular landscape of Finnmark, and the very north-eastern border with Russia.

In addition to the mainland’s coastline, come the shorelines of the Arctic islands and archipelagos of Svalbard, Bjørnøya, and Jan-Mayen – and the Antarctic dependent or claimed territories of the Bouvet Island, Queen Maud Land, and the Peter I Island.

The 5 longest fjords

Norway’s coastline has over 1,000 fjords, of all sizes.

The fjords were shaped by the enormous weight of the slow-moving ice-age glaciers. We can think of the fjords as flooded valleys.

The 5 longest fjords, and their lengths and regional locations, are:

Sognefjorden | 226 km | Sogn og Fjordane

Hardangerfjorden | 190 km | Hordaland

Trondheimsfjorden | 179 km | Trøndelag

Lyngenfjorden – Ivgovuotna (Sami) | 134 km | Troms

Porsangerfjorden – Porsángguvouotna (Sami) | 131 km | Finnmark

Of all the Norwegian fjords, Sognefjorden has the greatest depth, with its deepest point at 1,303 metres.

Travel by sea

One of the best ways to experience the most spectacular part of the Norwegian coastline, is to follow the example of the old Norwegians, and travel by sea.

The iconic Hurtigruten cruise liners take you from the south-western city of Bergen, and all the way up to the northern town of Kirkenes, close to the Russian border.

Source: The Norwegian Mapping Authority kartverket.no | EGP.00025

The Kingdom of Norway

The Kingdom of Norway – as we know it today – was born on 17 May 1814. That was when the Norwegians created their very own constitution. But Norway, as a distinct rural culture, has been around for 12,000 years.

Kantslått | Means cut grass in Norwegian

Kantslått is a Norwegian noun that means (1) the grass that is cut along the edges of a field, a road, etc. or (2) the actual process of cutting this grass. Traditionally, the grass was used as animal fodder.

The old Norwegian farm | When the old Norway changed

Between 1850 and 1950, Norwegian society transformed. The age-old fishing, hunting, and farming society gradually turned into a modern, industrialised country.

Norway | A land of water

In the spring, the snow covering most of the Norwegian mountains melts and turns into creeks, rivers, and magnificent waterfalls.

Norwegian landscapes | On the coastal path along the Oslofjord

Whether it be on a rainy day – or a beautiful summer’s day like this one – the coastal paths take us through some pleasing stretches of Norwegian scenery.

Kipe | Means a basket in Norwegian

A kipe is a tall, woven basket, often made of twigs from the birch tree. It was carried on the back, and typically used when carrying loads in a landscape full of steep fields and paths.

The old Norwegian farm | The old calendar-stick

The old Norwegians split the year into two main seasons: summer and winter – and used a two-sided wooden calendar-stick to guide them.

The old Norwegian farm | Bonde = farmer | Bondegård = farm

The Norwegian word for farmer is bonde – which stems from the old Norse búandi, which means a person with a fixed abode – a person living in one place.

The Norwegian cheese slicer | Ostehøvel

There are many types of cheese slicers, but Norwegian furniture-maker Thor Bjørklund invented the Norwegian version in 1925.

Norway has the second longest coastline in the world