Central Norway encompasses a remarkable landscape, from the shimmering fjords of the west across the peaks, plateau and valleys that have inspired great writers and composers. This is the heart of Norway.
The heartland of Norway is the upper part of the country’s southern bulge, extending from just north of Oslo and Bergen to just south of Trondheim.
The area encompasses the highest mountains in Scandinavia, and freshwater lakes and watercourses abound. To the east, there are two long valleys, Østerdalen (literally “Easterly Valley”) and Gudbrandsdalen, orientated roughly parallel to the border with Sweden and knifing through the high interior cordillera to provide the major north-south transport arteries.
In the middle, there are the lofty peaks and high plateaus of the Rondane and Jotunheimen ranges, and to the west lies the coast with its fjords archipelago in waters plied by boats since the land was first settled.
Lake Mjøsa is the largest lake in the country, and the best way to enjoy the lake is on a trip with Skibladner, the world’s oldest paddle-wheel steamer.
To the east of Lake Mjøsa lies Østerdalen, carved through the mountains by the country’s longest river, Glomma. To the west of Østerdalen lies Gudbrandsdalen, the country’s second-longest valley.
The Heart of Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg