Scots pine trees, Norway. The Scots pine, called Furu in Norwegian, can grow up to 40 meters high. They are very resistant and it is not unusual that they reach 300 to 400 years old. Even 600 year old trees are found.

Blooming fruit trees along Hardangerfjord, Norway. Hardanger is Norway's most prolific apple and cherry farming region, due to its ideal climate. The late spring as well as the light conditions make the fruit ripen slowly which gives it a full flavor. Some 40% of all Norwegian fruit is farmed in Hardanger.

Cruise ship sailing away into the sunset, Norway. The spectacular scenery along the fjords and coast makes Norway one of the world's greatest cruise ship destinations. In 2010 about 1.9 million cruise passengers visited Norway, thereby setting a new record.

Mountain farm along the Sognefjord, Norway. The mountain Molden offers some of the best viewpoints over the Sognefjord, the longest fjord in Norway. Half way up the mountain you reach the old mountain farm Svarthiller, from where you have great views towards Urnes at the opposite side of the fjord.

Apple blossom along Hardangerfjord, Norway. At the end of May the blooming fruit orchards along the Hardangerfjord are an unforgettable sight. The lush and green hillsides contrast with the snow capped mountains in the background.

Abandoned reaper from the old days in Engjadalen, Norway. The mechanical reaper invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831 revolutionized agriculture worldwide. It was pulled by horses and used to cut and gather crops.

Lærdalsfjord, Norway. The freshwater originating from precipitation and rivers flowing into the fjord floats on top of the seawater. Because the level of salinity varies with the depth, deep Norwegian fjords can actually accommodate both freshwater fish and saltwater fish at different depths.

Fruit orchard in Hardanger, Norway. In 2005, apple juice from Hardanger became the third Norwegian product to become protected as an official appellation of origin, thereby being recognised for its special quality and reputation.

Along the Sognefjord, Norway. In the past, many fishermen lived along the Sognefjord catching large amounts of herring, mackerel, cod, pollack, sea trout and salmon. Today however the amount of fish has declined and Arve Frivik, a lobster fisherman, is the last person making a living from fishing on the fjord.

The turquoise waters of river Otta, Norway. Lake Djupvatnet situated at an altitude of 1,016 m is the source of the 135 km long river Otta. The many glaciers feeding the river grind rock into a fine glacial flour which gives the river its characteristic turquoise colour.

Skjolden at the end of the Sognefjord, Norway. The Sognefjord is the world's longest fjord, stretching 205 km inland until the village of Skjolden. In earlier times the fjord provided the most convenient way to travel from Bergen to the mountain villages in the inner country.

View over the Aurlandsfjord from Åtnes farm, Norway. Located on a hillside, Åtnes farm offers magnificent views of the Aurlandsfjord. Across the fjord, at Fronnes, there are eight burial mounds made of rocks. It was a custom in older times to burry people such that they had a view of their home.

Uvdal stave church, Norway. The original church was changed and expanded several times during the middle ages as well as in the 18th century when it was changed into a cruciform structure. The church and its graveyard were in daily use until 1893. Today, services are only held during the summer period.

Ferry crossing the Sognefjord, Norway. Ferries are an essential way of transportation in the western fjords of Norway. All year long, a small car ferry crosses the Sognefjord between Solvorn and Urnes. By land it takes 73 km of narrow winding roads to drive between both places, but the boat trip only takes 20 minutes.

Wooden house, Norway. In heavily forested areas such as Scandinavia, wood is the natural building material for houses. Wooden houses are painted in order to protect the wood from the weather.

Fluffed up bird in the winter cold, Norway. To survive bitter cold temperatures, birds fluff up their feathers which improves their insulation. They also shiver to create heat even though this requires them to use up precious energy.

Fjords of Norway. Fjords are long narrow inlets carved into the landscape by glacial erosion and flooded by sea water. Apart from the Antarctic, fjords are most commonly found in Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Chile and New Zealand.

Åtnes farm along the Aurlandsfjord, Norway. The farm at Åtnes is one of the oldest farms in the Aurland area, with its origins believed to be more than 2000 years old. There were cattle, sheep, horses and hayfields. The oldest buildings remaining to this day date from around the year 1700.

Hedalen stave church in Valdres, Norway. Stave churches are wooden churches built from the 11th to the 13th century, the walls of which were constructed of upright planks or staves. It is believed that around 2000 stave churches were built in Norway, but only 29 remain at this day. Hedalen stave church was built around 1160.

Old farm in Hemsedal, Norway. It is uncertain how long Hemsedal has been inhabited, but evidence has been found of human activity dating back to the years 200-300. The area used to have a large hurds of reindeer, and the first setlers were probably hunters.

The village of Undredal, Norway. Located along the spectacular Aurlandsfjord, the village of Undredal had no road connection until 1988. Before that it could only be reached by boat. Today the village counts about 80 inhabitants and more than 4 times as many goats.

Wooden church, Norway. Early Norwegians were pagans believing in Norse mythology, but Norway was gradually Christianized during the 11th and 12th century. Norway converted to Lutheranism under the protestant reformation of 1536. Since 1964 the Norwegian constitution allows freedom of religion, except for the royal family who are required to be Lutherans.

Styggevatnet dam in the mist, Norway. The construction of the dam in 1989 caused two smaller lakes to merge into a single water reservoir of 6 km length and 90 m depth. The reservoir provides hydroelectric power and at the same time it prevents the floods that occurred in the Jostedalen valley previously.

The ship Mona Lisa on her last voyage in the Norwegian fjords, Norway. The cruise ship M/S Mona Lisa was built in 1966 in Scotland, but as she no longer complied with new regulations she was retired in September 2010. Plans are that she will be used as a floating hotel in Oman.

Spring blossom in Hardangerfjord, Norway. The Hardanger fjord offers excellent conditions for fish farming. With a yearly production of more than 40.000 tons of salmon and rainbow trout, it is one of the major fish farming regions in the world.

Viewpoint over Aurlandsfjord, Norway. During the last ice age, glaciers and rivers carved narrow deep valleys into the Norwegian mountains. When the ice melted the valleys filled with water thereby creating the fjords. The Norwegian fjords are surrounded by mountains reaching 1,800 m high while they in places extend as much as 1,300 m below sea level.

Flowering trees, Norway. Spring in Norway is a special time. The countryside comes to life with the spring blossoms contrasting with the receding snow. The cold dark winter nights turn into equally long days of sunlight.

Detail of Uvdal stave church, Norway. By dating the pine tree used to build the church it was found that Uvdal stave church was build just after the year 1168. Archeological excavation also revealed that it was build on top of the remains of a previous church.

Early morning along the fjord, Norway. As late as in the year 2000, some of the largest coral reefs in the world were discovered along the bottoms of the Norwegian fjords. The reefs are host to thousands of life forms such as plankton, coral, anemones, fish and several species of sharks.

Mountain Bleia along the Sognefjord, Norway. From the top of the mountain Bleia at 1717 meters above sea level, it is 2850 meters down until the bottom of the Sognefjord. In comparison, the Grand Canyon in the US is only 1600 meters deep.

Autumn scenery along Lustrafjord, Norway. Western Norway is world renown for its majestic fjords, spectacular waterfalls, steep mountain cliffs and snow-clad peaks.