! TROMSO !
tromso is located at norway's atlantic coast far in the north, 350 km north of the arctic circle and 300 km south of scandinavia's north cape. it is the largest city in northern norway, with a population of about 80000.
the impact of the northern location regarding day/night: midnight sun from may 18 to july 26. polar night from nov 26 to jan 15.
tromso is mainly located on the island of tromsoya. a huge bridge connects to the mainland.
the following map shows the location of tromso's main institutions, including museums and churches, and the university.
the appearance of tromso is colourful, regarding its buildings as well as the many ships anchoring there. even the view in snowy winters shows this.
here is a very slim history:
8000 b.c area settled since then by norwegian and sami people.
890 a.d norwegian/viking residents in tromso area.
1252 first church on the island of tromsoya.
1500 defending a norwegian+sami settlement against russia.
1794 tromso, still tiny, gets city status.
1804 becomes diocese, gets bishop.
1842 teacher training college moved to tromso.
1850 center of arctic hunting.
1900 important place for preparing arctic+antarctic expeditions.
1940 until 1944 occupied by germany.
1964 tromso gets airport.
1972 founding of tromso univerity, the only one in northern norway.
given that tromso became an important place in the 19th century, large buildings were erected, and even statues - one for norway's king and and one for amundsen.
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yet the tradition was, and still is - wooden buildings.
hard to believe - in this cold city are street cafes in summer! not in snow winter though.
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there are quite a few churches in tromso, some historic ones in classic style, such as the wooden cathedral, as well as very modern ones. one of these has a huge glass window.
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tromso is a cultural centre of northern norway. this includes theatre and music. there is even a norwegian arctic philharmonic orchestra!
regarding tromso's museums, one is unusual and amusing, the "troll" museum - showing this very norwegian 'being' in lots of versions.
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and one museum, located at the harbour, is even more special - it contains a real, now retired, fishing ship with all its equipment.
by the way, for people too lame to climb up the hills around tromso there is a cable car system available for impressive excursions.
finally, very colourful northern light (polar light) skies are a strong feature of tromso, to look at these is almost scaring!
tromso tromso tromso - - as always at the end of a gallery there is a serious question to me the traveller and the reporter: is this city worth a visit? well, certainly not for those who desire great beaches and grand bars.
yet about everyone with interests in abilities and achievements and architecture and art and attractiveness will find it exiting. it's far more to see there than one would expect from a small city. so - -yes, tromso is cold, but not at all cool!
TROMSO--OSMORT
OSMORT--TROMSO
