Mountain ranges of Norway

Early summer in mountain range between Valdres and Hallingdal.

The geography of Norway is dominated by vast mountain ranges broken up by valleys and fjords. Less than 10% of the country's area is arable, and the rest is mountainous. Glaciers are the major cause for erosion, so terrain in Norwegian mountains consists of plateaus and lakes with peaks. These areas have abundant and diverse fauna and flora.

The altitude of the treeline is in reverse proportion to the latitude; in northern Finnmark, it goes at sea level. The treeline is also lower near the coast and higher on the eastern part of the mountains.

Mountain ranges also form the main boundaries among Norway's districts. They typically run north-south. Several of the ranges have had road and railroad passes since historical times; some are newer; and many close for the winter.

Norwegian mountain ranges provide some of the most attractive recreational areas in Norway, both during the summer and winter. Cabins and trails are operated by the Norwegian Mountain Touring Association at intervals that allow for weeks of uninterrupted hiking or cross-country skiing in the mountains.

Trollheimen mountain range July 3 2005. The mountain is Trollhetta.

Another scene from the same landscape near Valdres

See also

• Scandinavian mountains
• Caledonian orogeny
• Geology of Norway
• Hillwalking, Climbing and Mountaineering in Norway

Guidebooks

Guidebooks in languages other than Norwegian are few. The following is a list of current mountaineering and walking guidebooks in print in English.

• A. Dyer et al. "Walks and Scrambles in Norway", ISBN 1-904466-25-7.
• Ed Webster "Climbing in the Magic Islands", ISBN 8-299319-90-0.
• Tony Howard "Climbs, Scrambles and Walks in Romsdal: Norway", ISBN 1904207243.
• Jon Haukassveen and Tom Atle Bordevik "Heavy Water - Rjukken Ice", ISBN 1873341466.
• Peter Lennon "Scandinavian Mountains", ISBN 0906227321.
• Constance Roos "Walking in Norway", ISBN 185284230X.
• James Baxter "Scandinavian Mountains and Peaks Over 2000 Metres in the Hurrungane", ISBN 0955049709.
• Bernhard Pollmann "Norway South", ISBN 3763348077.

External links

• www.scandinavianmountains.com — James Baxter's website on Norway's mountains over 2000m.
• www.mountainhiking.org.uk — Anthony Dyer's website that covers a variety of Norway's mountains.
• www.westcoastpeaks.com — Arnt Flatmo's excellent picture website for ascents of many of Norway's mountains.