Posts Tagged Nature
Did you know? A few facts about snow
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on March 3, 2010
Seen a fair amount of snow this winter? We certainly have here in Norway. Yes, more than usual. This winter has been the coldest for the past 20 years, and many places, including Østfold, have seen record amounts of snow (well over 100cm in several places) for the past two decades. Here are a few snow facts for you:
- Snow flakes are ice crystals joined together. Each snowflake is made up of between 2 and 200 separate crystals. As snow falls, snowflakes connect to make bigger snowflakes. Snow flakes are always hexagonal (6 sides), but they are rarely perfectly symmetrical. No two snowflakes ever have the same shape. The average snowflake has a top speed of 1.7m per second.
- It can get too cold for it to snow! Because snow is basically frozen water, if there is not enough moisture in the air, it won’t snow. This is usually the case when temperatures drop below -30C.
- Many people think of snow as being white, but it is actually transparent. Snow appears white because almost all of the visible light striking its surface is reflected back, without any preference for a single colour within the colour spectrum. Depending on where you find the snow, it can actually appear red, blue, green, pink, yellow, grey or even black.
- Layers of snow accumulated on the ground act like a layer of insulation. In winter, snow keeps plants insulated from sub-zero freezing temperatures.
- The fear of snow is called chionophobia.
- Oslo this year also experienced its worst snowfall since 1987. A record 180 municipal employees have been working round the clock to clear the city streets clogged with snow and snowed-down cars. There was so much of it that dumping grounds were quickly overfilled, and snow had to be dumped into the harbour.
- Not surprisingly maybe, the English words ’ski’ and ’slalom’ both come from Norwegian, where they mean… well yes, ski and slalom (slalåm) 
Listen to the great tit (parus major)
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on February 13, 2010
A common bird in Norway: The great tit
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on February 13, 2010
The great tit (parus major in Latin, and kjøttmeis in Norwegian) is a common sight in Norway. The birds have a distinctive blue and yellow plumage, with a black crown, nape and throat, and white cheeks. Both sexes have a black stripe running down the middle of the chest, but the male’s one is broader than the female’s. They measure about 14-15cm (the size of a sparrow) and weigh 14-22g.
Habitat includes forest, parks, hedgerows and gardens. They usually forage in trees and on the ground, feeding on insects, seeds, nuts, berries and fruit, as well as on kitchen scraps.
Both parents build the nest, which is made of moss and grass, and lined with hair and feathers. In late April or early May, the female incubates 5-11 eggs for 12-14 days. Eggs are smooth and glossy, and white with purplish-red spots. After the young hatch, they are fed by both parents. The chicks leave the nest after 2-3 weeks, although they are still dependent on their parents for a week or two.
Great tits are generally sedentary, though birds that breed in upland areas move to lowlands (altitudinal migration) for the winter. They are not considered to be globally threatened – indeed it is estimated that there are between 500.000 and 1 million pairs of great tits in Norway alone.
Østfold in Pictures: Haukenesfjellet, Rømskog
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on February 8, 2010
Haukenesfjellet Tower, Rømskog
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on February 8, 2010
A few kilometres south of Rømskog village in the Rømskog municipality, Haukenesfjellet former fire tower is Østfold’s highest vantage point, 333m above sea level. The view from the platform at the top of the 12m high tower is impressive, particularly in winter – with snow-covered forest stretching as far as the eye can see, and the white surface of frozen Romsjøen reflecting the winter sunshine. If you look straight ahead of you when you come out on the observation platform you will spot a red wooden church by the bank of the lake – this is Rømskog Church, one of the oldest in the county. A marked trail leads to the tower, and makes for a pleasant walk, while in winter you can use the prepared cross-country skiing tracks to get there (different departure point, see below).
How to get there: Follow signs for Rømskog along Rv21 coming from Ørje in the south.
In summer: When you get to Rømskog, follow the signs to Zen Resort & Spa. After about 70m turn left. Follow the dirt road through the quarry (on your left). Take the first left, just before the top of the hill. Drive to the roundabout and park. Then follow the marked trail to the tower.
In winter: A few kilometers before you reach Rømskog, you’ll see a bus holding place on your left. Take it left here and drive a few hundred meters to the end of the road. There is a small car park here, and the ski tracks start some 100m to the north.
They painted Norway (by Arvid Bryne)
Posted by admin in Art, culture and literature on February 4, 2010
With its informative, accessible text and high quality reproductions, this book is an excellent introduction to Norwegian art for anyone interested in the subject. Discover the country’s stunning landscapes through the paintings of some of its most acclaimed artists. From Erik Werenskiold’s depictions of Telemark to the dramatic scenery of Northern Norway, uniquely captured by Peder Balke, this book will take you on a fascinating voyage. Artists featured include famous names such as Theodor Kittelsen, Edvard Munch, J.C. Dahl, Adolph Tidemand, Hans Gude and Harald Sohlberg, as well as more recent (and perhaps lesser known) artists such as Sami John Andreas Savio and Marit Bockelie. Two of my personal favourites are Nikolai Astrup, famous for his colourful paintings of Jølster in Sogn og Fjordane, western Norway; and Christian Krohg, for his vivid, realistic depictions of city life in Norway in the late 19th – early 20th century. A must for anyone interested in Norway, or art – or indeed both.
Full title: They painted Norway: Glimpses of Norwegian nature and Norwegian artists. Author: Arvid Bryne. Publisher: Andresen & Butenschon AS (2004). ISBN 8276941591, 71 pages.
Østfold in Pictures: Elgåfossen, Halden
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Photos and videos on January 19, 2010
Østfold’s highest waterfall: Elgåfossen
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on January 19, 2010
At 46m high, Elgåfossen is Østfold’s highest waterfall, and an ideal spot for a picnic. You can admire the waterfall, which often freezes over in winter, from one of two bridges at the bottom of the fall (it’s a short walk from the parking area). If you are feeling energetic, there is a path and wooden stairs to the top, from which you can enjoy good views of the area. You can also have your picture taken with one foot in Sweden and one in Norway – Elgåfossen marks the border between the two countries, and the two flags adorn the little bridge crossing the stream at the top. Toilets and picnic tables onsite.
How to get there: Follow Rv22 from Halden towards Enningdalen and the Swedish border. The waterfall is clearly indicated about 500m before the border.
Did you know? Wolves in Norway
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors on January 13, 2010
- There are wolves in Rømskog, Aremark and Halden, Østfold – they move around quite a bit, and often cross the border with Sweden.
- A recent study of the wider Scandinavian wolf population concluded there were 120 individuals at the most, causing great concern for the genetic health of the population.
- Because of increasing shortage of natural prey, wolves are sometimes forced to give up their pack-hunting habits, and scavenge for food around villages and farmhouses.
- An adult wolf is about 75cm tall and weighs between 30 and 60kg, while females are usually 20% smaller than males.
- Wolves have been protected under the Nature Conservation Act in Norway since 1971, but ‘licensed killings’ or culls do occur, mainly to protect livestock in particular areas. How wolves should be handled is an issue that has always divided Norwegians, and people on both sides feel strongly about it.
- Several wolves appear in Norse mythology: Fenrir (also known as Fenrisulfr), a giant wolf that will devour Odin at Ragnarok (Doomsday) and be killed by Odin’s son, Viðarr; and Geri and Freki (also Gere and Freke), Odin’s two faithful companions.
More on wolves in Norway here http://www.environment.no/Topics/Animals-and-plants/Large-carnivores/Wolf/
Keeping safe on the ice
Posted by admin in Nature and the great outdoors, Sport on January 12, 2010
With so many frozen lakes and ponds everywhere this time of year, the thought of venturing on the ice is a tempting one. Particularly if you like ice-skating as much as I do! But safety has to be a priority, if you don’t want an ice-skating session with the family to turn into a bad memory, or worse, a tragedy. So remember the basic ice safety rules.
- Don’t venture on ice that’s less than 10cm (4 inches) thick.
- Don’t skate alone. You should always have someone with you in case of an accident.
- Children should not be allowed to skate on a pond unsupervised.
- Do not congregate in one area, particularly if there are a few of you in your party.
- Ice thickness is not consistent. Water currents, particularly around narrow spots, bridges, inlets and outlets, are always suspect for thin ice.
- Beware of ice around partially submerged objects, such as trees and logs.
- Stay away from cracks, seams, pressure ridges, slushy areas and darker areas that signify thinner ice.
- Don’t skate in the dark. Skate only during the day when the light is good and you can see your surroundings.
- You should carry a rope and some ice picks with you at all times on the ice.
- It’s a good idea to pack a change of clothes to take with you, in case you do fall through.