CITIES AND REGIONS
A Land of Diversity

THE HIGH NORTH
This combined region of Northern Norway and the Barents Region – which we will call the High North here – is one of the most unique areas in the world in terms of biodiversity, nature and resources. The “Gateway to the Arctic” city of Tromsø is the main city of the region, a region where the summer sun will not set for months.

If you have not experienced the High North, you should see it soon. Use Tromsø or Bodø as the stepping off point to experience dense forests in many areas that give way to alp-like mountain chains, major rivers thundering to the sea, and Lofoten – a chain of mountain peaks that drop into the sea over a distance of hundreds of kilometers. Find out more about the High North and its people, business, research and cities here at Norway Communicates.

MID NORWAY
Cities along the coast have explored the world for centuries. Trondheim is the capital of mid-Norway “Trondelag”. Trondheim is the thriving center of mid-Norway – known for its successful business environment, rich cultural life and outdoor recreational activities that are limited only the imagination.

Smart and friendly, Trondheim features the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, attracting the brightest minds from both Norway and internationally to study and conduct research, and the headquarters of the SINTEF Group, the largest independent research organization in Scandinavia.  

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST
Deep in the southlands of Norway, one can imagine the tall sailing ships arriving to Kristiansand, the Gateway to Europe. Here in the southlands – the counties of East and West Adger - in the summertime all thoughts of winter are just faraway dreams. Here, one normally enjoys even more summer sunshine compared to the rest of Norway – making it the ideal home to festivals and outdoor recreational activities – a popular destination for visitors from Norway, Europe and beyond. The region’s long and colorful history with the sea continues today with an active shipping and maritime sectors.

Completing “South by Southwest” is the county of Rogaland with the Greater Stavanger Region as the centerpiece. Home to 300,000 people, Stavanger has been an international gateway for thousands of years – where some say that the history of Norway began here 10,000 years ago. Still looking out to the big world, Stavanger is the birthplace of the “Norwegian Oil and Gas Adventure” that began in 1969 and is now again looking to the future within renewable energy that include wind and tidal power. 

THE EAST
The Eastern Mountains and the Greater Oslo Region with the Norwegian capital city of Oslo at its heart is a dynamic area that consists of one-third of the Norway’s total population. Known as the “Blue and the Green and the city in Between”, Oslo is a pearl and ranked as among the most livable cities in the world. Other internationally known cities include Lillehammer – home of the 1994 Winter Olympics and applicant to the 2016 Youth Olympic Games.

This is most populated part of the country, with vibrant cities such as Tønsberg, Fredrikstad, Hamar, Gjøvik and many others offering business opportunities, nearly unlimited places to visit and see as a tourist, excellent educational institutions – and an excellent way of life for those who choose to stay to work and live in Norway.

WEST – THE FJORDS OF NORWAY
The coastline has given rise to a fishing and maritime industry that gives each region a distinct personality. Anywhere on the planet, the simple phrase “Fjords of Norway” brings to mind nature at its most spectacular. In the Fjord Capital of Bergen you can stand on the wharf that has seen world trade for the last 1,000 years - a power within commerce long before the New World was even a thought.

In 2004, Time Magazine recognized Bergen as one of Europe’s best kept secrets, citing the region’s astounding success within aquaculture, saying “Bergen's transformation into a center of aquaculture is no surprise”. The city is of the county of Hordaland – a county that produces 80% of the crude oil exported from Norway. Successful business thrives here, including one of the world’s leading subsea sectors.

THE MOUNTAINS
There are few places on Earth that can bring you closer to eternity than the Norwegian mountains. In the dead of the winter cold night, it is as if there is more light than dark in the sky – and you can literally see your shadow from starlight. Norwegians go to the mountains to find themselves – ask them and they will tell – the mountains are their meditation.

Join us as you explore the Cities and Regions here at Norway Communicates.

Cities
Bergen
Bodø
Kristiansand
Oslo
Stavanger
Tromsø
Trondheim
Ålesund

Regions
The high North
The fjords
The mountain
Mid Norway
South by Southwest
The East