Norway Weather, climate and geography
Weather & climate
Although Norway is on the same latitude as both Siberia and Alaska, the Gulf Stream ensures that the country is warmer than you might think, though it is colder the further north you go. In the spring (March-May) average temperatures slowly increase from 1C (34F) to 11C (51.8F) in Oslo and -2C (28.4F) to 5C (41F) in the far northerly Tromsø. For hikers and those in search of outdoor pursuits, including wildlife watching, the best time to visit is in the summer (between mid-May and mid-August) when the temperatures reach a comparatively warm 16C (60.8F) in Oslo and 10C (50F) in Tromsø. The best time to visit, if you're coming to ski are the winter months, especially December to March, when the significantly colder temperatures ensure the best snow.
The best time to visit is between mid May and mid August, unless you're coming to ski, in which case the best time is December to Easter. Hikers and those in search of outdoor pursuits including wildlife watching should aim to visit in the summer months when the warmer weather makes getting out and about in the Norwegian countryside a real pleasure. Better still, the summer is low season, which means accommodation and transport deals aplenty.
Geography
Norway is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by Finland, the Russian Federation and Sweden, to the south by the Skagerrak (which separates it from Denmark) and to the west by the North Sea. The coastline is over 25,000km (15,534 miles) long, its most outstanding feature being the numerous fjords. Most of them are from 80km to 160km (50 to 100 miles) long, and are usually flanked by towering mountains. Much of northern Norway lies beyond the Arctic Circle and consequently, mostly takes the form of rugged tundras. The south is covered with pine and larch forests, and dotted with lakes, rivers and mountains.
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