Here are five relatively unknown facts about Norway:
- Norway introduced Salmon Sushi to Japan: In the 1980s, Norwegian seafood exporters promoted the idea of using salmon in sushi, which wasn’t traditionally done in Japan. This has since become a popular staple in Japanese cuisine.
- Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Norway is home to the “Doomsday Vault,” located on the Svalbard archipelago. It stores duplicates of seed samples from around the world, acting as a backup to preserve plant diversity in case of global crises.
- Norway has a “no homework” movement: Some schools in Norway are testing out the idea of not giving homework to students. This movement is rooted in research suggesting that less homework may improve students’ learning experience and reduce stress.
- World’s longest road tunnel: Norway is home to the Laerdal Tunnel, which is the longest road tunnel in the world. It stretches for 15.3 miles (24.5 km) and connects Laerdal and Aurland in Western Norway.
- Norwegians love slow TV: Norway popularized “Slow TV,” which involves long, real-time broadcasts of events like train journeys, knitting, or firewood chopping. One of the most famous examples is the 7-hour long broadcast of a train journey from Bergen to Oslo. It became a cultural phenomenon.