Exploring the best of Narvik

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Narvik, a place that should be inhabitable, turns to be quite the opposite.

This city in the arctic, surrounded by mountains on both sides and by fjords on its north and south is teeming with life and continue to do so by inviting tourists’ left and right.

LOCATION

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This city in the north of Norway is a land that should not be able to support a population turns out to be have gained a rough estimate of 20,000 populations. Its distance to the Gulf Stream made it possible, keeping the town from freezing.

Narvik is a town part of the county of Nordland. It was bounded by Bodo in the south and Harstad in the north. On its west, Narvik faces the sea and the Lofoten Island, while on the east the town is separated from Finland by a boundary line.

CLIMATE

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Despite its distance to the north, Narvik’s port does not freeze over during winter due to the Gulf Stream. Its summer temperature can also climb at around 20 degrees Celsius. However, there are the dark seasons in Narvik where the sun disappears.

This happens in the middle of wintertime from November to January. Opposite the dark season is when the sun shines for months in which it is called the “polar days”. All visitors of Narvik are advised to bring different types of clothing for different seasons, as the weather is unpredictable.

TRANSPORTATION

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The town of Narvik has a domestic airport close to its town center. It connects Narvik to major cities of Norway, which is mostly Oslo, where there are international flights.

Another recommended way of transport for visitors outside the country would be through Hurtigruten, a Norwegian Coastal Voyage that cruises on Norway’s coastal areas and transport passengers.

If you’re from Sweden, there is a train called Statens Järnvägar in Boden to transport you to Narvik. 

It takes around five hours of travel time. Another train is from Oslo to Fauske, where you still have to ride a bus before reaching Narvik.

ATTRACTIONS

Museums

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Narvik has three museums: Ballangen Museum, War Museum, and Nord Museum – Narvik. Each museum has their own focus. Nord Museum – Narvik houses the history of Narvik, where each exhibition presented tells the story of the development of this city in the arctic.

War Museum and Ballangen Museum on the other and focuses into specific parts of Narvik history. 

Ballangen tells a portion of Narvik history from 1600 to the middle of 1900, when the mining operation in Narvik is a booming industry.

The war museum focuses on the World War II. In here you will see the old war machines well preserved since the war. It also provides an extensive knowledge of the causes that leads to the unfurling of events during the WWII.

Narvikfjellet

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Narvikfjellet is a popular destination for many outdoor activities especially skiing. For years, families, friends, and lovers bond together in Narvikfjellet to ski. However, as they say, it isn’t all about skiing.

You can also enjoy the scenery 656 meters above sea level. The famous way of enjoying the view is through the cable car in which you can see either the midnight sun bathing the landscape of Narvik or the arctic light exploding over the winter-cloaked region. It all depends on what month you visit the area.

A famous restaurant called Mountain Restaurant is a spot to relax and also enjoy the view of the fjords.

Polar Park

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The polar park is a unique experience in Narvik. In here, you will see the predators such as bears, wolves, lynx, and wolverines up close.

In Wolf Park, you will have the opportunity to touch and have the famous “wolf kiss” without the fear of being devoured.

Apart from meeting the predators, there are also other facilities in the park you can enjoy with your family, such as flying over rivers through the zillions and recharging your energy in restaurants.

Ofotbanen Railway

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Visiting Narvik, you wouldn’t want to miss the Ofotbanen Railway. Often referred as the one of the best scenic routes, Ofotbanen railway connecting Narvik, Norway and Kiruna, Sweden does not only offer the best sights you could ask when traveling to the fjords and peaks of Norway. It also introduces you to the history and culture of the country.

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Images:
(1.)http://d2mve4pl256l37.cloudfront.net/globalassets/global/campaigns/uk/northern-lights/2015/aurora-jan_arne_pettersen_copyright-1400.jpg?width=800
(2.) https://4gwar.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/norway_pol96.jpg
(3.) https://nomadsmag.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/2.jpg
(4.) http://cruisejobdirectory.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/hurtigruten.jpg
(5.) http://nordnorge.com/sites/d/destinationnarvik.com/files/42bab08626b5551042c81c9ec5d2fd39.jpg
(6.) https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5159/5913866268_4dcd541a3a_b.jpg
(7.) http://www.fruamundsen.nl/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DSC_2930.jpg
(8.) http://www.visitnarvik.com/sites/v/visitnarvik.com/files/62db876cd9734957e8ae6255ed5c83d1.jpg