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Norway is longer than any other country in Europe, it measures 2 800 km (1,739 miles) from top to bottom, not counting remote Svalbard in the Arctic Sea. The coastline is so convoluted that if you could walk all of its sea perimeter you would clock up an amazing 22 000 km (13,670 miles)... and that's not counting an estimated 150 000 islands and islets.
Protected from the Atlantic Ocean by islands, or hidden at the head of their own fjords, picturesque ports all along the coast use the harbors that the Vikings sailed from more than a thousand years ago. No matter how far north you travel, there always seems to be another geographical magnet to beckon you further - the thrill of crossing the Arctic Circle for the first time, the Lofoten Islands way out in the tlantic, or the bleak cliffs of the North Cape.
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Determined to tie the country together (and persuade people in the remotest areas to stay there), the government has spent vast sums on infrastructure, especially in the north. Bridges or tunnels link almost every significant island to its neighbors or to the mainland. Each little port or settlement, no matter how far-flung, has its connection to the highway system, and great efforts are made to keep the roads open. Even some places officially rated as villages have airports and daily flights.
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Though water temperatures cannot compare with those of more southern latitudes, the Norwegian coastline is warmed up by the Gulf Stream, and hence compares favorably with most others at such latitude. Plus, you can have all the space you want and a fantastic natural setting in the bargain. Where I live, water temperature can be 20-25 deg. C (68 - 77 deg. F) in mid summer, which is not to bad – even I go for a swim then...
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There are an endless number of places for swimming, sailing, windsurfing and other kinds of water sports, and there is more than room enough for everyone. The bottom line is fresh, clear and clean water – all over the Norwegian coast.
My favorite place in the Norwegian skerries, is Moutmarka on the south tip of the island Tjøme.
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It's just 25 minutes to go by car, and in the summertime I usually go out there for for some hours after work.
Actually, I enjoy that place all year. It is beautiful in the summer, but I also enjoy the autumn storms, cold winter days and spring, when the flowers start blooming. The fauna out there is special, and it is one of the places in Norway with the biggest variety of flowers. The reason for that is that years ago, in the days of
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sailing ships, the ships used to unballast right outside the island. The ballast was often earth from other continents, thus spreading seeds all over the island. I can spend hours out there, just listening to the sounds of the sea. For me, it is recreation just being there, and for that reason neither season nor weather really matters.
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