Understand
With a low population density, Northern Norway is dominated by nature. Since the ice age ended 12,000 years ago, the coast has remained ice free in winter. The coast is protected by islands in most areas except east of North Cape, and until modern technology helped build good roads, travel by sea was always more practical than across the rugged land. The sea has a rich life, and fishing provided food year round. Fishing in combination with small scale agriculturee as far north as Troms was for centuries the dominant way of life. Today, North Norway has good communications and a more varied economy than ever before. Nature, however, is still dominant in most areas outside the towns, although you might notice small farms along the fjords and on the coastal lowlands.
