Norway - The places of your holidays on a sailing yacht and catamaran

Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is located in Northern Europe and its capital city is Oslo. Its territory belongs to the Scandinavian peninsula and it's the second least densely populated country in Europe. Its coasts are jagged and broken by huge fjords and very large islands, and the country is crossed by the Arctic Circle in the northern part: in these areas phenomena such as the midnight sun in summer and northern lights in winter can be observed.

The Norwegian territory is mostly mountainous, it is crossed from north to south by the Scandinavian Alps, whose highest point is the Galdhøpiggen (2469 m). The southern part also presents coastal and low-lying areas. The rivers have a short and impetuous course: the longer is the Glomma. The largest glacier is the Jostedalsbreen.

The climate of Norway is quite mild despite the latitude, thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream. Average annual temperatures are therefore above zero. This avoids the formation of sea ice, favoring port activities and fishing.

Norway is the country with the highest human development index in the world, a result that is mainly due to the production of hydroelectric energy, the exploitation of oil fields in the North Sea and the export of raw materials such as wood of forests, fish and minerals. Respect for the environment is also very rooted in the Norwegian population and 15% of the territory is protected. The national parks are over 33. As for the flora, being the territory occupied by forests and in the north by the tundra, it is mainly characterized by hardwood, such as oak, beech, elm and birch.

The fauna includes reindeer, polar hares, foxes, lemmings, deer, elk, wolves and bears. The rivers are rich in pike, salmon and trout, the sea is rich in cod and herring. During a trip to Norway not to be missed is a visit to the capital Oslo, the main cultural center of the country, but also sailing cruises are recommended in the fjords or in the archipelagos, including the beautiful Lofoten Islands, where the northern lights offer spectacular panoramas.