THE ROAD TO NORWAY
Written by MOTORBIKE EUROPE Road Writers -
What to write about Norway, the world's best motorcycle country? Or, at least, one of the world's best motorcycle countries. Norway's natural environment is mountainous, the coastline stretches more than 20,000 km, and is interrupted by a maze of fjords, islands and islets.
Norway is also known as the country where the midnight sun dances, especially north of the Arctic circle. Here, the sun never sets in midsummer, and in winter, the many valleys go for long periods without direct sunlight. The North Sea follows the coast of Norway, along its entire length. Four seas break on the coastline. The North Sea in the southwest, and the Skagerrak in the south, the Norwegian Sea to the west, and the Barents Sea to the northeast. Norway's highest point is Galdhøpiggen with 2,469 meters, situated in Jotunheimen, in the Lom municipality, in Oppland county. The Norwegian climate is temperate, especially along the coast, which is influenced by the Gulf Stream.
Jotunheimen is Norway’s and indeed, Northern Europe's largest mountain range. Here, lie the highest mountains in northern Europe, Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind. The area has 80 peaks taller than 2,000 meters.
Sognefjord is both Norway's longest, and the world's longest fjord. It is 204 km long, from Skjold to Solund, and 1,308 m at the deepest. It lies in the south of Sogn og Fjordane county, stretching from the foothills of Jotunheimen in the east, to the coast of western Norway.
The West Country, is a western province in southern Norway. It is generally believed that the West Country covers the counties of Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland and Rogaland. Total population: 1.2 million people. The largest city is Bergen, and Stavanger is the second largest. The West Country is one of the areas in Europe, with most rainfall in mountainous areas, around 3,500 mm on average per year, and up to 5,000 mm, in the years with most rain.
Lofoten is a Norwegian archipelago in the North Atlantic. The principal islands, from north to south, are Austvågøy, Gimsøya, Vestvågøy, Flakstadøya and Moskenesøya. The area covers a total of 1.227 km², and there are approx. 24,500 inhabitants in the region.
The North Cape Plateau, is a steep rock formation located in North Cape municipality, in the northernmost part of Finnmark, Norway. The North Cape Plateau rises 307 meters above sea level. North Cape is a popular tourist destination, partly because of the harsh natural environment, but more specifically, because there is the opportunity to experience the Midnight Sun in summer, and northern lights in winter. North Cape has been described as Europe's northernmost point, but this is not the truth. Firstly, the tip of Knivskjellodden, located a few miles west of North Cape, is 1500 m further north. In addition, both sites are located on an island, Magerøya and it is therefore arguable, whether they should be included with mainland Europe, because in that case, the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen is a candidate for the title of Europe's northernmost point. The northernmost mainland point is Kinnarodden, near Magerøya.
For a motorcyclist, Norway is a must for your adventures. Fantastic roads and stunning nature co-exist in symbiosis. Visit Norway with your motorcycle in the summer months, and experience something really unique.
