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Clockwise, from top

Clockwise, from top left: A sperm whale breaching in Norwegian waters; puffins on the Lofoten Islands; national ensign of Norway; seagulls soaring over a fjord; a traditional Viking ship; stockfish drying on wooden racks; picturesque Lofoten houses; Old Stavanger 42 VIKING.COM EXPLORE MORE

TRAVEL The NORWEGIAN SEA Here, we bring to life the geography, resources and discoveries related to this northern waterway If you pulled Norway’s crinkled coastline out into a straight line, it would circle the planet two and a half times. From north to south, the country measures less than 1,100 miles, but its coastline totals an impressive 63,000 miles of fjords, bays and island shores. This glorious natural wonder was shaped during the last ice age when glaciers several miles high pushed into the land, resulting in dramatic, soaring peaks like those seen on the Lofoten Islands. A RICH SOURCE OF FOOD Stretching out into the Norwegian Sea, the remote Lofoten archipelago shows off the sculpting power of nature. The islands are home to the world’s greatest cod harvest. Each winter, the icy Arctic Ocean meets the Gulf Stream, attracting Arctic cod from the Barents Sea. These relatively warm waters are why the sea here remains ice-free all year. Tørrfisk is dried and salted stockfish (usually cod), made in Norway for centuries. Traditionally dried outdoors by the wind and sun as a way to preserve nutrients, row upon row of fish hang on wooden racks along the shores of Lofoten as they have for 500 years. These waters are also rich in herring, and the abundance of fish in turn attracts other animals. Humpback, minke and sei whales and orcas come to feed, while the cries of puffins, kittiwakes, gannets, gulls and guillemots pierce the sky. Until the 20th century, the archipelago was sparsely populated, save for the coastal Sami who have inhabited the land since they first colonized it up to 4,000 years ago. BEYOND THE HORIZON From the deck of a ship, you can sense a timelessness about the land, which is both wild and resilient. You can understand the pull of the sea that Norwegian explorers like Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen must have felt. For many years, the Norwegian Sea was thought to be the edge of the known world. To sail across the sea was daring but also a demonstration of one’s navigation skills. By the 8th century, the only European seafarers to dare sail far enough to lose sight of land were the Vikings. Utilizing favorable winds and armed with plenty of provisions (like stockfish), they ventured in all directions to create new settlements and forge new trading routes. They navigated by the position of the stars and the sun. West (toward the sunset) meant they were headed for England; east (toward the sunrise) meant home to Norway. Symbolic of the Viking Age, the Vikings’ longships were sophisticated beyond their time, recognized, respected and imitated the world over. Built not for comfort but for speed, agility and endurance, the ships’ innovative design allowed the Vikings unparalleled access to faraway lands. Exploration is part of the Norwegian DNA. By exploring beyond the horizon, Norwegians came to master the sea and, in turn, depend on it for transport, resources and trade. The 14th century was Norway’s Golden Age, a time of peace and growing international trade with Britain and Germany. This period of trade was controlled by the Hanseatic League, which established a trading center in Bergen. Their buildings, still preserved along Bergen’s Bryggen wharf, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and serve as a reminder of the country’s enduring link to the sea. OIL EXPLORATION Today, the most important product of the Norwegian Sea is not fish, but oil and gas. Oil was first found in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea in 1969, and by 1990, the country was Europe’s largest oil producer. By 2000, oil and gas production accounted for 20% of Norway’s economy, and it had become one of the world’s most prosperous countries. The oil industry not only created jobs in production, but also in the supply chain and technology. To sail the Norwegian Sea is to witness life along an eons-old coastline that is as mesmerizing as the sea itself. Under the dusky light of the midnight sun or the midwinter blanket of darkness, the coast reveals tiny settlements in sheltered hills that appear unchanged through time. From Bergen to Tromsø and Honningsvåg in the far north, the cities along the coast were built on fishing, trade and exploration—and they wear their heritage proudly. Wooden buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries line the harbor, where the fish markets sell the day’s catch. Deep, yawning fjords offer a route inland to mountains and glaciers. Many countries have a history and culture firmly anchored to the sea, but none more so than the people of Norway. EXPLORE MORE VIKING.COM 43