over. Built not for comfort but for
speed, agility and endurance, the
ships' innovative design allowed
the Vikings unparalleled access to
lands beyond their own.
Exploration is part of the
Norwegian DNA. By exploring
beyond the horizon, Norwegians
have mastered the sea and, in
turn, depend on it for transport,
resources and trade. e 14th
century was Norway's Golden
Age, a time of peace and growing
international trade with Britain and
Germany. is period of trade was
controlled by the Hanseatic League
who established a trading centre
in Bergen. On Bergen's Bryggen
(wharf ) the preserved buildings
of the Hanseatic League are a
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
percent of Norway's economy, and
it had become one of the world's
most prosperous countries. e 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 mesmerising as
the sea itself. Under the dusky
light of the midnight sun or
the mid-winter blanket of
darkness, the coast reveals tiny
settlements in sheltered hills that
appear unchanged through time.
e cities along the coast, from
Bergen to Tromsø and, in the far
north, Honningsvåg, were built
on fishing, trade and exploration
and they wear their heritage
proudly. Wooden buildings from
the 17th and 18th centuries line
the harbour, where the fish markets
sell the day's catch. Deep, yawning
ords, offer a route inland to
mountains and glaciers.
Many countries have a history
and culture firmly anchored to
the sea. None more so than the
people of Norway.
Above: Fishing
boats docked
in Henningsvær,
a village in the
Lofoten Islands
viking.com
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