Wonders of Northern Europe

In the north-west of the European continent, Norway extends over a length of around 1,700 kilometers. The country is characterized by mountains and fjords, it is almost entirely covered by the Scandinavian mountains. The distinctive surface modeling is mainly due to the glaciation during the Ice Ages and the associated erosion, to which the country was repeatedly exposed over the course of two and a half million years. The traces of this turbulent geological past are still visible today, especially in the west. There are prehistoric glaciers like the Folgefonna, countless crystal clear mountain lakes, trough valleys and dizzying peaks. In the heart of the mountains lies Hardangervidda, the largest plateau in Europe above the coniferous wood border, with its barren heather and tundra landscapes, lakes, white water and moors.

Located beyond the Arctic Circle, Lapland spans several hundred thousand square kilometers, straddling Norway, Sweden and Finland. In the west and north, along the Norwegian coast, it stretches into thousands of islets. Crossing the barrier of the Scandinavian Alps, it reveals landscapes of forest and ice, winter sometimes lasting almost eight months. Tucked away under a thick white coat, these often desert areas are the territory of the Sami, the only indigenous people in Europe, and, especially since the 17th century, that of the Finns and other Scandinavians who gradually settled there.

Stretching over nearly 2,000 km, Sweden is characterized by a variety of landscapes. Partially agri-cultivated, it remains above all a wooded country.

In the Northeast of Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Finland is a country of geographic and cultural transition between Russia and Scandinavia.

Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is a volcanic island with a magnificent and unique natural scene. Why did people decide to settle here?