Home2

Two New Danish Sites Inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List This Summer

dailyscandi

September 24, 2014

Two New Danish Sites Inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List This Summer

These inscriptions bring the total number of sites on the World Heritage List to 1007.

The geological site Stevns Klint in Denmark comprises a 15 km-long fossil-rich coastal cliff, offering exceptional evidence of the impact of the Chicxulub meteorite that crashed into the planet at the end of the Cretaceous, about 65 millions years ago.

Researchers think that this caused the most remarkable mass extinction ever, responsible for the disappearance of over 50% of all life on Earth. The site harbours a record of the cloud of ash formed by the impact of the meteorite – the exact site of the impact being at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula.

The asteroid impact that many researchers claim was the cause of the dinosaur die-off was bad news for marine life at the time as well. But new research shows that microalgae – one of the primary producers in the ocean – bounced back from the global extinction in about 100 years or less

An exceptional fossil record is visible at the site, showing the complete succession of fauna and micro-fauna charting the recovery after the mass extinction.

The Wadden Sea (Germany/Denmark). This is an extension of the Dutch and German Wadden Sea site, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2009.

The Wadden Sea is the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world. The complete extension now covers most of the Danish Wadden Sea maritime conservation area, as well as a maritime extension of the Dutch Wadden Sea Conservation Area and the German Wadden Sea National Parks of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.

Wadden Sea National Park (Nationalpark Vadehavet) was named a Danish national park on 17 January 2008. Since June 2014 it contributes the Danish part of the UNESCO‘s World Heritage of the Wadden Sea. Prince Joachim of Denmark is Patron of the Wadden Sea Centre.

The Wadden Sea National Park is by far the largest of Denmarks national parks and covers the Danish part of the Wadden Sea from Ho Bugt to the German border, and includes the islands of Fanø, Mandø and Rømø, as well as Skallingen, Varde Å valley and many of the marshlands of Tjæreborgmarsken, Ribemarsken, Margrethekogenand De ydre diger i Tøndermarsken.

The Wadden Sea is known for its large number of migratory birds and for the large flocks of European Starlings which fly in formations known as the Sort sol. (Wikipedia)

An Evening of Norwegian Folk & Gospel in Nashville

dailyscandi

September 23, 2014

An Evening of Norwegian Folk & Gospel in Nashville

Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, Tennessee kicks off the season with a special performance by Norwegian musicians Solveig Leithaug on guitar and Alexander Rybak on violin October 1.

Ms. Leithaug, who is known for singing Scandinavian folk music as well as gospel, has 14 solo recordings and three best-selling children’s CDs to her credit. The Dove Award-winning recording artist has served as a guest artist at official Parliament functions, national and international conferences, television broadcasts, and inner-city and prison outreach events.

Alexander Rybak displayed prodigious musical talent at an early age. After emigrating with his parents from Minsk, Belarus, to Norway, he studied violin and piano; by the time he was a teenager, he was performing on the violin with orchestras around the world. His breakthrough came in 2009, when he won the Eurovision Song Contest with his original composition “Fairytale”, which went on to top the charts all over Europe. At 28, he has released four albums and continues to tour throughout the world.

The performance of Norwegian folk & gospel is free and open to the public.

Re-unification of Iceland and Norway

dailyscandi

September 22, 2014

A group of Icelanders have started a campaign to have the country brought under the administration of the Norwegian government as “Norway’s 20th county”, writes grapevine.com.

The group, Fylkisflokkurin (“The County Party”), already has just over one thousand members. In their mission statement, the group administrator writes that they aim for “the re-uninfication of Iceland and Norway”, wherein “the Norwegian government would constitutionally protect and promote Icelandic culture while Icelanders would enjoy all the same rights as Norwegians.” – Iceland is just too small to raise up talented politicians. It is also too small to raise and nurture properly talented people, says the group founder and director of the National Center of Addiction Medicine (SÁÁ), Gunnar Smári Egilsson, reports Nettavisen.

Iceland was colonized in medieval times, mainly by Norwegian people. The first wave probably started in 860, and saw its heyday from about 870 to 930, according to historian Per Norseng. Iceland and Norway formed a common Norse cultural area in the North Sea, and much of Norway’s history was chronicled by Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson.

Iceland was brought under Norwegian rule around 1262. This lasted until the Kalmar Union in 1380, which united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway (with Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Shetland and Orkney), and Sweden (including some of Finland) under a single monarch. In the union, Denmark was the stronger country, and eventually gained rule over both Norway and Iceland (as well as Greenland and the Faroe Islands). Norway left this relationship in 1814, and Iceland in 1944.

Source: The Nordic Page
Feature image (on top): Allen Watkin | Reykjavik skyline

Top ten places for Stockholm Visitors

dailyscandi

September 18, 2014

Big and small. Well-known and unique. Classics like the Vasa Museum and modern newcomers like ABBA The Museum and Fotografiska. In Stockholm, there are more than a hundred attractions to choose from. We have boiled it down to a list of ten things you simply cannot miss.

Here are some suggestions for our Stockholm visitors:

Kaknästornet
Kaknästornet, Stockholm tv-tower, 155 meter high with the best view of Stockholm, day and night, summer and winter, rain or shine, offers a unique environment for both ordinary days as partys Enjoy the tv-tower restaurant Stockholm, café, skybar, viewpoint and souvernir shop.
Elevator fee: 55 kr (7-15 years olds, 20 kr).

Skansen
Skansen is the world’s first open-air museum, founded in 1891. Here you can stroll through five centuries of Swedish history, from north to south, with a real sense of the past all around in the histori¬cal buildings and dwellings, peop¬led by characters in period dress.

Artipelag Museum
Artipelag is a new international venue for art, good food, events and activities – beautifully set on Värmdö in the Stockholm Archipelago, just 20 minutes from the city centre. Getting here is easy; whether by bus, car or boat. There are 350 parking spaces, a pier for passenger boats from Stockhom city and a long guest marina for visiting private boats. The visiting address is Artipelagstigen 1, Gustavsberg and the position N 59° 18´ 04″, O 18° 20´ 07″.

Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum has become a natural part of Stockholm’s skyline. Its masts rising high above Djurgården have become a beacon guiding curious tourists and Stockholmers alike. Vasa has not always been housed in such splendour. From her salvaging in 1961 until 1988 Vasa’s home was a 27-year long temporary one at the Wasavarvet Museum.

Djurgården
The green island of Djurgården, close to central Stockholm, is beloved by both Stockholmers and tourists. Djurgården is a calm oasis which has been royal land since the fifteenth century. There are fine areas to stroll, for example around the Djurgårdsbrunn canal and Blockhusudden. Djurgården is also home to several of city’s top museums and attractions, as well as enjoyable cafés and restaurants. It’s easy to reach Djurgården on foot, by the Djurgården ferry boat from Gamla Stan/Slussen, by tram from Norrmalmstorg or by bus.

Take a walk
Strandvägen (Swedish for “Beach Road”) is a boulevard on Östermalm in central Stockholm, Sweden. Completed just in time for the Stockholm World’s Fair 1897, it quickly became known as one of the most prestigious addresses in town.
It’s hard to say which walk is the best direction to head, but strolling along the waterside on Strandvägen in Östermalm is hard to beat. Painters, boats, mini-stalls with ice-cream and treats. If you can combine it with a loop of the island of Skeppsholmen beforehand, you’re sure to impress your guests. Extra points if you mention to your visitor that the big white boat is actually a youth hostel.

Gamla Stan
Here are a lot of unique things to see when visiting the old town in Stockholm. The old town is the original Stockholm. The town was set up during the 1300 century. There are about 3000 people living in the old city today. Most buildings are from the 1700 and 1800 century. If you can spare a few hours take the time to walk about the old town. The dominant building in the old city is the king’s castle. The old town is the place to be if you want to experience the town’s pulse. The area has Stockholm’s biggest ranges of restaurants, tourist shops, studios and museums. There are many wonderful paths to walk in the old town.

The Royal Palace
Take a day trip to Drottningholm and experience a historic milieu of the highest standard. Drottningholm Palace is Sweden’s best preserved royal palace constructed in the seventeenth century, the permanent residence of the royal family and one of Stockholm’s three World Heritage Sites.

Photo Visit Sweden / Gomer Swahn

Hipster spotting in Södermalm
The vibe in the streets of Södermalm is relaxed, creative and trendy, especially in the Sofo area. This neighborhood offers a myriad of vintage stores, eclectic shops, Swedish fashion, galleries and design stores, mixed with an abundance of places to eat and drink.
Two of the best viewpoints in the city are located on Södermalm: Fjällgatan and Monteliusvägen. Art galleries are nestled shoulder to shoulder on Hornsgatspuckeln. The Hornstull area has undergone a renaissance and is now a trendy meeting place for Stockholm hipsters.

Gondolen
Originally built in 1883 and replaced in 1935, this public elevator connects Slussen below to Södermalm above. Take a ride to the top and take in the nice views of Gamla Stan and other parts of the city, and of course the water, for 10SEK each way. There is a man in the elevator that will take your money once on the way up, once on the way down. There’s a bit of a wait for the elevator to come. There is a nice restaurant at the top, which is good, but not as impressive as the view itself.

100% Norway 2014

dailyscandi

September 17, 2014

Bergen Academy of Art and Design has been invited by the Norwegian Design Council and the Norwegian embassy in London to design and curate the exhibition ‘100% Norway’ in 2014. Professors Dave Vikøren and Petter Bergerud of the Department of Design was appointed project managers.

The two professors have been busy at their drawing boards in Marken 37 designing the 260 sq. m exhibition space. ‘We were invited because we have made a name for ourselves in the international design arena for several years now. Our work has been noticed. I believe we were given the ‘100% Norway’ in 2014 assignment in recognition of our efforts,’ says Dave Vikøren.

The ‘100 % Norway’ exhibition has been an important Norwegian contribution at the annual London Design Festival. The exhibition has presented and promoted new Norwegian design and has been positively received and highly praised. It has been organized jointly by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy in London, the Norwegian Design Council, Innovation Norway and the Federation of Norwegian Industries.

Since 2013, the Federation of Norwegian Industries and Innovation Norway are no longer part of the project. For 2014, the board behind 100% Norway has chosen to renew the concept, and the Norwegian Design Council and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/the Embassy in London invited KHiB to take responsibility for the design and curating of the exhibition in 2014. This year’s exhibition in Old Truman Brewery will be entitled ‘100% Norway’ and lasts from 18^th to 21^st September.

In its artistic research, Bergen Academy of Art and Design focuses on the development of and innovation in design. Internationally, KHiB has been active in producing exhibitions that illustrate the processes behind and the results of these efforts, for example in Seoul, Helsinki and Stockholm.

A selection of student projects from the master’s programs in design offered by various educational institutions in Norway will also be included at the exhibition in order to show what future designers in Norway are interested in. Projects from Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Oslo School of Architecture and Design, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Oslo and Akershus, University College and Bergen Academy of Art and Design will be represented at the exhibition.

The objects selected for inclusion at the exhibition will be chosen on the recommendation of a jury of professional designers.

Summer Nights in the Norwegian Tree Top Cabins

dailyscandi

September 16, 2014

Summer Nights in the Norwegian Tree Top Cabins

In the Hamar Region in Norway the “Tretopphyttene”, Tree Top Cabins, have become a very popular attraction. Built on the top of tree crowns, the cabins are an exciting, yet very safe and comfortable, place to spend the night.

25 feet above the forest floor, high in the tree crowns hangs the treetop cabins. They are an amazing way to experience the beautiful Norwegian nature up close and personal. These three unique cabins are placed in close proximity to each other in the woods of Ringsaker, between Hamar and Lillehammer, an hour and half north of Oslo.

The newest addition, the pine cabin even has a ramp that makes it easily accessible for wheel chair users. So please permit yourself to take a minute and plan what will be an unforgettable experience wether it be a trip, vacation or a gift. The cabins comfortably houses 6-8 people and prices start at 999,- NOK per night.

If the wind gets up, the cabins move gently with the trees, just to let you know you are in a cabin like no other. This makes you aware you are not in a city hotel or in any normal cabin.

In the Norwegian Tree Top cabins you can sleep safely and comfortably among the tree crowns. You can also enjoy the great Norwegian wilderness and get up close with the many birds and beasts of the forest.

The cabins are located far away from the sights and sounds of traffic and populated areas. This means that on any night the silence is and light sounds of the forest are calming to the soul. And on clear nights you get to enjoy dark skies littered with beautiful stars.

Environmental Challenges in Scandinavia

dailyscandi

September 15, 2014

Scandinavia is blessed with vast uninhabited landscapes, and a small, environmentally-aware population who recycle, have a passion for bicycles and public transport, and see their countryside as a national asset that must be protected.

In December 2009, Oslo received the distinction of the third greenest city in Europe (after Copenhagen and Stockholm). Always aware of the wealth of their fisheries, water and fossil fuels, the Norwegians were among the first Europeans to feel concerned by the protection of the environment. Beyond the postcards of mountains plunging into the sea, fjords and spectacular northern lights stands a modern country that strives to protect its natural heritage.

Although there are challenges in Scandinavia, Scandinavia’s environmental record puts the rest of Europe to shame. Stockholm was designated Europe’s first Green Capital in 2010, Sweden plans to be carbon-neutral by 2020, and Norway by 2030.

Scandinavian nations invest heavily in their clean environments, and Sweden tops the list for Northern Europe. Count clean energy sources, efficient public transportation (like green-friendly rail networks) and top notch health care as reasons for the high ranking.

Sweden and Norway are backing a green free trade agreement that will open up trade in environmentally friendly products. The agreement was signed last January in Davos by the EU, the US, China and Japan, along with a number of other countries that agreed to move ahead with the initiative to promote green trade.

Norway is a land known for its natural beauty and glorious fjords, but they keep it pristine with their public policy. That dramatic scenery is an invaluable national treasure which is well protected by progressive environmental legislation across the board!

Løv Organic has created a range of 22 high quality organic packed whole leaf teas that are both irresistible and environmentally friendly. The tea is french, but inspired by Scandinavia.

The Swedish artist Carina Björck has hand painted all pillowcases with environmentally friendly watercolours.

Wind supplies 20 percent of Denmark’s electricity, and the world’s biggest solar power station is on the island of Aero.

There are some headaches though. Nitrogen run-off from Sweden’s southern farmland contributes to Baltic Sea pollution and in Denmark, overfishing is a serious concern. The demands of a greedy 21^st century are seen most clearly in Greenland, whose melting icecaps and stranded polar bears are shorthand for global warming.

In 2010 oil reserves were discovered in Baffin Bay; and Greenland’s first aluminium smelter will open this year.

Denmark and Norway have no nuclear power stations. Sweden is reassessing its following the failure of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011.

Cardboard Cabin in Gothenburg – the Chameleon

dailyscandi

September 12, 2014

Cardboard Cabin in Gothenburg – the Chameleon

The spark of inspiration for cabins come from all sorts of places, but this one was certainly unique. A printer in Gothenburg, Sweden, wanted to show off its capabilities, so it commissioned White Arkitekter and branding agency Happy F + B to design a small structure. Note that again: a printer. Of paper.

This corrugated paper cabin designed by architect Mattias Lind is printed to resemble black marble on one side of the folds and white marble on the other so it looks different from either .

As well as the folded elevations, the two gable ends are also printed in corresponding shades so that the entire building looks black or white depending on which side it’s viewed from. A bright yellow interior provides a contrasting warmth that also covers the window reveals.

The proportions of the cardboard cabin in Gothenburg are based on the Swedish friggebod, a small shed that can be erected without planning permission.

The corrugated folds of the modules that form the walls and gabled roofline create a stable structure and are fitted together using a simple system of tabs and slots.

A total of 95 modules were needed to assemble the building, which weighs approximately 100 kilograms and has a floor space of around seven square metres. The modular construction system could be used to produce buildings of any length.

The entire structure is made from MiniWell, a two-millimetre-thick corrugated paper produced by Swedish company EuroWell.

Photos by Rasmus Norlander

Read about other Scandinavian vacation cabins: Tanto – the allotment garden.

Ride by Rickshaw in Copenhagen

dailyscandi

September 11, 2014

Sit back, relax and prepare to take in the sights of majestic Copenhagen. View the city from the unobstructed comfort of a rickshaw. Enjoy photo opportunities along the way, stopping at your convenience, as well as scheduled breaks at the Little Mermaid, Amalienborg Palace, Rosenborg Castle and Copenhagen’s cathedral.

In the Danish capital Copenhagen, where more than a third of the population cycles to work, a rickshaw ride allows you to see the city through a typical Danish cyclist’s eyes.

A guided tour by rickshaw in Copenhagen can be booked here.

Our journey through the cobbled old town included stops at the romantic Rosenborg Castle and the royal gardens, which house the crown jewels such as the 3kilo monarch’s crown. We also caught a glimpse of the world-renowned bronze statue of The Little Mermaid.

Easy to explore
We stayed at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Copenhagen, designed by the famous Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, on Vesterbrogade and appreciated the close proximity to the Tivoli Gardens and Strøget’s pedestrian-only shopping street.

Across the street is the Copenhagen Central Station, the city’s first railway connection. Its first line led the way to the ancient capital of Roskilde, the hometown of Bishop Absalon — the founder of Copenhagen.

The town’s marvel is the Roskilde Cathedral, which was built from three million bricks baked using the holy “kilde” (springwater). Work began in 1170 and it took a hundred years to complete. The addition of a ring of royal sepulchral chapels was made around 1400. Today, it is the burial ground for the Danish monarchy.

As one of the earliest French-inspired Gothic brick buildings in the world, the cathedral made it to the Unesco World Heritage list in 1995.

If you visit the Roskilde Cathedral in summer — from June to August — be sure to join the tours or catch the performances on a 500-year-old organ. Check the timetable at www.roskildedomkirke.dk.

Sail away like a Viking
It is also in Roskilde that you can view the five 1,000-year-old Viking ships, which were lifted from the depths of the channel of Roskilde Fjord 50 years ago in “the greatest find from the Viking Age and the Danish National Museum’s first large-scale underwater excavation”.

Besides viewing the archaeological finds at the Viking Ship Museum, you can check out the Viking cooking, metal smith and costume dress-up stations.

We had a blast trying to set sail on a life-size reconstructed Viking ship out of the harbour. It costs 80 DKK (S$18) for a one-hour sail. Back on shore, our hungry and tired group fuelled up on Viking egg cake, malted sourdough bread and wines.

Almost a fairy tale

After the strenuous activity of rowing a Viking ship, relax as you hop on a ferry from the nearby Hillerød city centre along a picturesque lake to Frederiksborg Castle. Along the way, you will be treated to a gorgeous view of “the most beautiful sea mile” in Denmark.

Known as the “Versailles” of the Nordic region, the Frederiksborg Castle — not to be confused with Frederiksberg Palace in Copenhagen city — is a museum that traces 500 years of Danish history (www.dnm.dk/uk).

From Easter to mid-October, you can meet castle hosts dressed up as Christian IV and enjoy the lakeside baroque garden for free.

Special exhibitions this year include “Søren Kierkegaards’s 200th Anniversary” in the Golden Age rooms and “Denmark and the Russian Empire 1600-1900” in the Great Hall, where gowns will be exhibited.

On the way back to Copenhagen, stop at Klampenborg train station and visit Dryehaven (Deer Park), home to thousands of deer. There, you can enjoy a horse ride through the dreamy lush green forest where you won’t be able to tell one Bambi from the next.

The former royal hunting grounds is also home to the oldest amusement park in the world — the 426-yearold Bakken amusement park. The Tivoli Gardens, dating back to 1843 is the second-oldest. So let your inner child indulge in some good oldfashioned fun for a perfect ending to your holiday in Copenhagen.

1...295296297...320 Page 296 of 320

Exploring Scandinavia

Stories Made to Stick

Scandinavian Explorers

Exploring Scandinavia

Scandinavian Explorers

Stories Made to Stick

Two New Danish Sites Inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List This Summer

An Evening of Norwegian Folk & Gospel in Nashville

Re-unification of Iceland and Norway

Making Oslo More Social

Top ten places for Stockholm Visitors

100% Norway 2014

Summer Nights in the Norwegian Tree Top Cabins

Environmental Challenges in Scandinavia

Cardboard Cabin in Gothenburg – the Chameleon

Ride by Rickshaw in Copenhagen