Wildlife on the Norwegian Coast
As a result of varied geography and climate, Norway is home to a wide range of animals - from the deepest seas to the highest mountains.
Diverse, exotic, raw - the exciting wildlife is one of the reasons why so many people travel to Norway. While animals can be found almost anywhere, we cannot understate the varied selection of animals along the Norwegian coast. From puffins and sea eagles to king crabs and whales, the coast has it all.
Under the sea
Most people associate Norway with fish. For good reasons, we should add, because Norwegians often go fishing and eat it afterwards. Some even say that cod was the fish that built the country. The Atlantic cod, commonly known as Skrei in Norway, is perhaps the the most important of them all. If you plan to go fishing like a true Norwegian, you should also get to know the fish in the Norwegian fjords.
Another famous fellow is the king crab, which migrated from the Murmansk fjord near the Norwegian-Russian border to the coast of Finnmark. Known as a delicacy in restaurants, make sure you taste the king crab while visiting.
For many visitors, the most magnificent sea creature is probably the whale. Found in the northern areas of Norway, the majestic, beautiful and intelligent whales are the undisputed kings of the sea.
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A birdwatcher's paradise
From the cliffs to the fjords, Norway is a great place to spot the diversity of bird life. Avid bird watchers who embark on Norwegian cruises will get a unique look at the avian species along the rugged coastline of the country. The island of Runde, situated just outside Torvik, is known for its teeming birdlige of more than 500,000 birds.
Vadsø is close to one of the most scenic and popular birdwatching areas in the Arctic as it sits directly under the migration path of birds flying from east to west. The advantageous biotopes combined with rich resources in the Arctic Ocean attract many species of birds in large numbers.
One particularly popular bird is the Atlantic puffin. Another one is the all-seeing, white-tailed sea eagle, the largest bird of prey in Norway.
