Throughout Norway

The depth of the fjords, the translucence of the streams, the aquas and turquoise of the rivers and lakes. Not to mention the pale blues of the glacier lakes and the frothy, turbulent whites of the waterfalls. From the outset of our journey into Norway, and consistent all the way through, this element has had the ability to stop me in my tracks and make me gaze at it in admiration and sometimes awe.

The colours of the water change with the light and depth. Like changing moods, they can reflect and effect how you see the landscape around; a very dramatic landscape. Whether the water comes as a large body or narrow strip, is still or moving, frozen or suspended in the air, you can tell that it has shaped this country and perhaps even the people who live here.

We have stayed parked by fjords and watched the water change from a deep blue to an inky green as the sun gets lower and casts it’s golden light on the houses, small in the distance on the opposite shore. Below the surface of the water, you can still clearly see seaweeds of various purple hues swaying with unseen currents.

We have climbed towards glaciers with their blue veins, awesome to see how their slow moving strength carves the landscape of rock. With the glaciers comes the melt water, feeding into pools that are a pale, nearly electric, blue.

We have ventured to swim in the cool glacier pools, with water as still as the surroundings. The reflection like a mirror until a splash from a pale body causes ripples to distort the image. Likewise we have swum in fjords as the sun has progressed towards the horizon, dipping below the darkening water only briefly to then cast light again a few hours later.

At first you think the water divides Norway; the fjords cut their pathways far inland, the edges of Eastern Norway is made up of many islands, even waterfalls cascade along roads and so have to be accommodated to allow their course to continue.

But then, after many twisting and winding roads, and many, many ferries,

you realise it is part of this land. Like a circulatory system; it brings life to the landscape. From the melting snow at the top, to the trickles of streams, to the rushing rivers over white stones, through the calm majestic fjords, right out to the ever changing sea.

It feels like we have experienced all four seasons here. The weather, the landscape, and the water changes so dramatically from one day to the next. Rain and wind, with seas of grey.

Clouds heavy around tall peaks we hiked for amazing views.

And other days full sunshine illuminating waves and distant shorelines.

By traveling in our van, we have spent nearly every night in Norway with a view of some form of water. Calm, dramatic, reflective,

Norway’s water makes you stop and reflect.