Norwegian Fun Facts

10 Norwegian Fun Facts, with Photographs from My Travels

Norway gives me plenty to photograph, from snow-covered mountains to ordinary conversations in an Oslo café. These ten Norwegian fun facts add a little context to the places and traditions behind the familiar views. Some concern the landscape; others begin with a Christmas tree, a cheese slicer or a particularly distinguished penguin.

1. The Midnight Sun Brings Summer Light Above the Arctic Circle

In northern Norway, the sun stays above the horizon for part of the summer. The dates depend on how far north you go. Visit Norway lists roughly late May to mid-July for the Lofoten Islands; farther north, the period is longer.

I remember standing on a cliff in Lofoten at midnight, with the sun low on the horizon and warm light across the landscape. For photography, the attraction is not simply more hours in the day. It is the chance to work with low-angle light at a time when I would normally be putting the camera away.

Fishing cabins, exposed shores and steep mountains give the Lofoten photography collection its character. I am drawn to the relationship between the small buildings and the much larger landscape around them.

2. Norway Helped Make Salmon Sushi Popular in Japan

Salmon feels like an established sushi ingredient, but Norway played a major role in introducing farmed Atlantic salmon to the Japanese sushi market in the 1980s. The Norwegian Seafood Council’s account of salmon sushi explains that export story.

This was a change in how a familiar fish was marketed and eaten, not the invention of sushi itself. It is a useful reminder that food traditions can develop through trade as well as through local custom.

3. The Lærdal Tunnel Runs for 24.5 Kilometres

The Lærdal Tunnel between Aurland and Lærdal is the world’s longest road tunnel, at about 24.5 kilometres. It forms part of the E16 route between eastern and western Norway. Its length is impressive without the inaccurate claim that it halves the entire Oslo–Bergen drive.

If you are planning that route, check the Norwegian Public Roads Administration’s tunnel information. A major upgrade is scheduled from late 2026, with traffic arrangements that can affect a journey, particularly at night.

4. Norway’s King’s Guard Has a Penguin Mascot

Major General Sir Nils Olav III is a king penguin at Edinburgh Zoo and the ceremonial mascot of the Norwegian King’s Guard. The tradition began in 1972, and the name and honours have passed through successive penguins. It is not the same bird surviving from the original adoption.

The current penguin was promoted to major general in 2023. Edinburgh Zoo tells the story of this unusual connection between Norway and Scotland. It is one of the lighter facts in a country with plenty of more serious achievements.

5. Oslo Sends London a Christmas Tree

Since 1947, the annual Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square has expressed thanks for Britain’s support for Norway during the Second World War. The direction of that gratitude matters. It is a gift from Oslo, not a British tribute to Norway for assisting Britain.

The tree is usually a large Norwegian spruce from the Oslo area. London’s Trafalgar Square Christmas information explains the tradition and its continuing connection between the two cities.

6. Southern Norway Still Has Wild Reindeer

Hardangervidda supports an important wild reindeer population. These animals should not be confused with the domesticated and semi-domesticated herds associated with Sámi reindeer husbandry, much of which takes place farther north. Both matter, but they have different histories and management needs.

Seeing reindeer in the wild made me think about the space animals need. The Hardangervidda National Park Centre explains their ecology and habitat. If you encounter a herd, give it room and follow local conservation guidance. My article on nature and wildlife photography looks at the different attention those subjects require.

7. Norway Has a Strong Winter Olympic History

Norway hosted the Winter Olympics in Oslo in 1952 and Lillehammer in 1994, and its athletes have won more Winter Olympic medals overall than those of any other nation. Cross-country skiing is a particularly strong part of that record.

Norway’s relationship with skiing reaches well beyond elite competition. For a visitor with a camera, winter also changes the landscape itself: snow separates dark trees, roads and buildings into clear shapes. Those quieter scenes interest me as much as the sporting reputation.

My Norwegian wall art collection brings together those winter landscapes with city scenes and coastal photographs. The range is part of what keeps Norway interesting to me.

8. Northern Lights Need Darkness as Well as Solar Activity

Seeing the northern lights above the Arctic Circle was one of the memorable parts of my time in Norway. But being in the north does not guarantee a display. You need darkness, sufficiently clear skies and auroral activity; the long daylight of midsummer works against visibility.

Late September through March is a useful general season to consider, with conditions varying by location and date. Cloud, mist and ordinary winter light can still produce photographs worth making when the aurora does not appear. My guide to taking photographs in fog explores that quieter kind of weather.

9. The Cheese Slicer Is a Norwegian Invention

Furniture maker Thor Bjørklund patented his cheese slicer in 1925. Inspired by the action of a carpenter’s plane, it made thin, even slices easier to cut. The Norwegian Industrial Property Office documents the invention’s history.

The tool remains familiar at Norwegian tables, including alongside brunost, the caramel-coloured brown cheese. It is a modest object, but a good example of a practical idea becoming part of everyday life.

10. Norwegian Has Two Official Written Forms

Bokmål and Nynorsk are the two official written forms of Norwegian. They are not simply two spoken dialects, and Norway’s language picture is wider than those two names: Sámi languages and other minority languages are also part of it.

For a traveller, the differences can appear in signs, publications and place-name information. The Norwegian Language Council explains how Bokmål and Nynorsk are used. Paying attention to language is another way to notice regional differences instead of treating the country as one uniform place.

These Norwegian fun facts sit alongside the things I remember visually: a barn in snow, a café window and lamps disappearing into mist. Learning a little about a place makes those photographs more interesting, but I still want to leave room for ordinary details that no list can predict.