The Breath of Life

Dancers from the Kulturskolen in Tromsø, Norway sit and enjoy the sunshine on their last day of term. Photo: Sally Parkinson.

Approximately Yours

A woman poses next to a polar bear mural in Longyearbyen, Norway — the world’s northernmost town. Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters.

A Little Difference Makes a Big Difference

After Norway’s Storelgen stole Mac the Moose’s place as world’s tallest, a Canadian city hopes to “stick it to Oslo” by increasing their statue’s size. [Read more].

• Leyland Cecco, “An egregious offence”: Canada battles Norway for tallest moose statue, The Guardian, January 18, 2019

Battle of the moose: Canada’s Mac the Moose (left), and Norway’s Storelgen (right). Composite: Alamy.

A Change of Air

Stavanger, Norway: People gather in the mountains near Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) in Forsand for the outdoor screening of the film Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Some of the scenes in the movie were filmed at the Norwegian landmark last November. Photo: Carina Johansen/AFP/Getty Image.

Queen Sacrifice

• Joachim Baardsen, Magnus Carlsen er blitt singel | Magnus Carlsen became single, VG, January 29, 2018

VG, Norway’s most read online tabloid newspaper, reports that Magnus Carlsen became single after the breakup of his one-year romance with Synne Christin Larsen.

Synne Christin Larsen and Magnus Carlsen before the 7th round of the 4th Isle of Man International Chess Tournament in Douglas on Friday, September 29, 2017. Photo: Maria Alekseevna Emelianova/Matt & Patt.

Plasma Physics

Lofoten Islands, Norway: Northern lights (aurora borealis) illuminate the sky over Torsfjorden in the Arctic Circle. Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images.

Sleepless Beauty

Magnus Carlsen’s Twitterman, Mr. Tarjei J. Svensen, takes stock of Norway’s bid to host in Oslo Carlsen’s World Chess Championship match in 2018. General Secretary of the Norwegian Chess Federation Mr. Geir Nesheim told Matt & Patt that so far the Federation has already allocated 500,000 kroner for Oslo’s application, but it will need much more money – between 30 and 45 million kroner – to organize and stage such an event. What is to be done? Before being tempted to ask for a loan from Magnus himself, Mr. Nesheim could maybe seek the assistance of the newly constituted charitable foundation “Kirsan Fund”.

“Sleepless Beauty”
Oslo Opera House (Operahuset)
March 11 – May 6

Luck of the Draw

北京 (Běijīng), China: A member of the honour guard at a welcoming ceremony for Norway’s Prime Minister, Erna Solberg. Photo: Jason Lee/Reuters.

The Immaterial

• Gunnar Garfors, Step aside Denmark. Norway takes world’s happiest nation crown, The Guardian, March 23, 2017

Very likely 16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen and his neo-fiancée Synne Christin Larsen decisively contributed to the victory of their country in the 2017 World Happiness Report. Photo: Ole Kristian Strøm and Kolbjørn Hoseth Larssen.

Monolith at Vigeland Park

Magnus Carlsen’s Twitterman, Tarjei J. Svensen announced today that Oslo – Norway’s capital – will bid for hosting the next World Chess Championship match.

The Vigeland Park is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, and is one of Norway’s most popular tourist attractions. The park is open to visitors all year round. Photo: Alamy.

Head On

Head-on by Tapio Kaisla (Finland) Tapio took a trip to Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway, to find these magnificent oxen in their natural habitat. Even though spring is not rutting season for these animals, they were already seriously testing their strength and the air rang out with the loud bang of the head-on collision between these two beasts. Photo: Tapio Kaisla/2016 Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

King Kong

Svalbard, Norway: A polar bear crouches down on the ice in the Svalbard islands in the Arctic ocean, halfway between Norway and the north pole. Photo: Andy Rouse/Barcroft Images.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Svalbard, Norway: Pianist Ludovico Einaudi performs in the Arctic Ocean as part of a Greenpeace campaign calling for its protection. Photo: Pedro Armestre.

Nappstraumtunnelen

Flackstad, Arctic Circle: A surfer approaches the water’s edge near Ramberg in the Lofoten archipelago. Photo: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images.