It is a well-known fact that Russians are often pressured by their parents to ace everything they try out. For example, from a relatively young age, they learn how to play a musical instrument, bring home nothing but A+ in their report cards and take part in many after school activities. This particular girl was into gymnastics, which is why she can be seen posing flexibly in the photo below.

Yes – it is safe to say that the sock and sandal trend is a phenomenon a little too familiar in the Russian culture. Truth is, there really is no explanation for it, with the exception of the harsh winters. Nevertheless, Maxim really outdid himself, even while not rocking the terrible trend. The woman by his side makes it all the more evident that maybe this isn’t a terrible trend after all?

In Russia, women don’t just eat meat and veggies in between their workouts, they devour large beasts and pull tractors in the Siberian wildernesses. They are just so hard as nails, it’s not even fair. Even after building up all that muscle and becoming incredibly strong, Russian women maintain their pristine, good looks. They look so much like a mannequin that we are starting to speculate whether or not this is actually real. It seems too good to be true.

When most people think of Russia, they think of the Kremlin, bears, probably vodka… But they also think about things like this. Alexandra was on her way to her favorite mall when she stopped at the traffic light and turned some heads. Well, the first thing that really stands out in this photo is the motorbike. The second thing(s) that really catches the eye are the heels – I mean, come on! Sasha, you daredevil, you.

We can’t believe that this photo was taken in Russia. In this part of the country, apparently, girls have a unique cleaning ritual that just doesn’t make any sense. They take cans of Jaguar, travel to the nearest lake and pour the energy drink over themselves. Only then do they jump into the lake and clean themselves, washing away the sins they have committed over the previous year. Either that or this one particular Russian girl is in the mood for being kinda silly!

The Trans-Siberian Railway is renowned around the world for being the longest railway of all time. It is an extremely useful form of transport for those who need to get to other parts of this large, vast country. However, some people just can’t afford a train ticket. So here is a clear example of what some people do: they hitch-hike. It doesn’t stop there though. If you can’t get a ride in the front seat, people will settle for the trunk.

There seems to be a global consent that that pool parties quickly spiral out of control, and Russia is no different. The country may be characterized by freezing cold temperatures during the winter, but this does not mean the good people of the nation cannot enjoy a fun pool lounge with their friends when the opportunity comes along. They even made sure to place beers and have a bbq in the middle of the pool. Looks like things are about to get electric!

For kids, Haloween is an opportunity to get dressed up as their favorite film or TV character and go door to door yelling out “trick or treat,” but once adolescence kicks in, it seems the once-innocent holiday has taken a quite a permissive turn. While men continue to dress foolishly, women seek out ways to emphasize their curves through creative costumes. The Russian girls in the photo below seem to be doing just that, dressed up as cleaners in heels and reflective safety vests.

Sour bread from leaven dough is especially loved by Russians, and for this reason, it can be found almost everywhere around the country. Russians use beer or kvas base, yeast or a part of old dough as leaven that gives a certain sourness. This poor pigeon clearly is very fond of the nationally favored bread of her country, which is why she pecked her way through the slice and wore it as an accessory around her neck. We just hope it wasn’t to heavy when she spread her wings to fly.

We have all been there – we try to do the impossible and always end up disappointing ourselves. This poor guy had only just become a new father and was still struggling to find the time to both get ready for work and help out with the baby in the morning, so he came up with this seemingly perfect solution. Only in Russia would you come across a man taking a bath while driving off to work – but that’s not to say it’s legal, which is why he’s being pulled over.

Taking your child to the local playground should be a carefree task, but this particular spot is anything but reassuring. The deep dark abyss situated right at the end of the slide suggests there was something gravely disturbing at the bottom of the pit. It’s terrifying to that before this picture was taken, kids were running around this playground without a fear in the world. Maybe this is some sort of a Russian military kindergarten, and the slide is their way of training the infants.

There is nothing worse than using a public restroom, turning to wash your hands and realizing the soap dispenser is empty. Then again, studies show that using a soap bar could potentially carry more germs than simply washing your hands using nothing but water. The incident in the picture below, however, is even more confusing, as it provides a solid soap bar in a liquid dispenser. We are not sure what the cleaning procedures are like in Russia, but they definitely defy chemical substance rules.

In a free country such as America, it is not a particularly rare sight to come across someone who is dressed in an unusual way. However, the loose social rules of conduct in the Land of the Free are not the same as they are in Russia. This man, sporting too-tight-for-comfort leggings, a velvet blue jacket embroidered with majestic gold print and a leopard bodysuit is quite frankly a peculiar sight, but as long as he feels comfortable we are all for it.

This is probably what the first ever guitar looked like, since it took the original guitar designers a while to understand which materials should be used in order to get the best sound out of what is probably one of the most common musical instruments in the world. The person responsible for this invention, however, was a young Russian high school student who just recently picked up shop class and could not afford to buy a real guitar. Needless to say, this is very impressive!

Working all day and all night is very straining, especially for drivers of any sort as they could potentially risk the lives of those onboard. For this reason, in some countries, laws have been constituted to make sure professional drivers get a minimum of eight hours of sleep every 24 hours before embarking on their next journey. Hunger can also play a key role when it comes to distracting the driver, which is why this Russian subway has its very own McDonald’s drive-thru window.

When you are young and in love, you do a lot of things you never thought you would. It is hard to pinpoint on what it is exactly that makes you lose all your senses and dive deep into the unknown of an ever so promising relationship, but more often than not, first loves end in heartbreak and disappointment. For this reason, it’s best not to go too crazy like put your life on the line (quite literally in this photo) for that first love.

It is true that the great country of Russia could be considered a little behind on certain things, but when it comes to woman empowerment, there isn’t a country quite like it. The femininity of the women in the country does not come at the expense of having girls know how to take care of themselves. Here, for example, we see a young girl prepping the mechanics of her set of wheels before going on a ride.

Visiting the countryside, also known as a “dacha”, is a massive part of the Russian culture. Dasha and Masha are two sisters who love the country side, but the one thing they’ll never get rid of is their city style. Dasha and Masha like to dress as though they’re twins, and it doesn’t bother them that they’re spending time in the countryside and the outfits look a little out of place. After all, always be prepared?

While countries like England may favor the traditional horseback riding racing which involves a human jockey, it appears that Russia has different rules altogether. It is hard to believe this picture has not been photoshopped. Additionally, animal rights activists might object and claim this is a clear case of animal cruelty. However, we would not be surprised to find out those bears climbed the horses themselves. The adorable horses probably got spooked by the bears on their backs and galloped into the distance.

Igor promised his wife Alexandra that he would build a doghouse for their new pooch, but he never seemed to get around to it. There was always something else to do around the house, such as get rid of their old laundry machine and find a solution for the gap they had in the net surrounding their backyard. Finally, he put two and two together and came up with this incredibly creative solution that ticked every single task on his to-do list.

As poet and historian Henry David Thoreau once said, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” It seems this saying could not be more accurate for the man in the picture, who clearly got motion sickness from the mere thought of putting his sailing days behind him. Once a captain of the boat, always a captain of the boat, and this old Russian man proves just that.

Kicking back at the end of a long day with a drink in one hand and a good book in the other is the ultimate dream for a lot of people. It seems like getting a little bit of peace and quiet is so difficult in modern times, that building a porch outside your house guarantees a sort of sweet escape. This particular porch, however, is quite an odd one, seeing as how it is situated on the side of the building with no door as an entryway.

When taking any form of public transportation, you are essentially placing your life in the hands of people you do not know. The relationship is based on trust, and you take comfort in the fact an official would never put your and the life of others in jeopardy just to save a few bucks. Horrifyingly, this is far from being the case in this picture. The saying “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” does not apply here, since this train clearly needs fixing – and fast.

At first glance, this picture looks like David Bowie went a little too wild in one of his concert and brought an overly eager fan on stage for a quick sip of liquid courage. However, a closer look reassures that the singer lookalike is actually just a Russian woman pouring a drink into her good friend’s mouth and using a slipper as a funnel. Both seem to be having a good time, but we would personally prefer to drink directly from the bottle.

Weddings are such a joyful occasion – a couple that has found true love decided to declare they intend of spending the rest of their lives together while surrounded by everyone they love. This particular couple, however. did not want to just mention their love for each other – but also celebrate their favorite athletic activity – skiing. For this reason, their attire included both the traditional bridal gown and groom suit, and ski equipment along with a matching scarf, gloves, and beanie.

Some women might want a shiny new ring on their finger to feel as though they are being pampered and appreciated, but the only carat this Russian girl wanted was an edible one. Her new husband was planning to surprise his wife with a bathtub filled with carrots, her favorite vegetable, for months – it just took him a while to gather so many of them. When she woke up Saturday morning, walked out to the garden and spotted this surprise she was absolutely over the moon.

Parking can be a little bit tricky when the road is too narrow, but it seems this particular tank cannot use this excuse as justification for the way it parked. Not only is it taking up a lot of space on the sidewalk, but tanks are not meant to be parked in the middle of the street. However, what seemed to have slipped the minds of whoever placed the boot on the tank is the fact that the tank could very easly run over the boot.

The Star Cast band put it best when they sang “It ain’t about what you got, it’s all about what you do with it.” The owners of this GAZ Volga, an automobile brand that originated in the Soviet Union, have had enough of their old, beat up car, so they decided to spice things up by adding another pair of wheels to the car and changing them all to be 4X4 jeep wheels. In Russia, if you can’t upgrade to a new vehicle, you can alter it entirely.

Russians have a rather interesting way of expressing their love for food, as can be seen in the photo below. While it is a well known fact that they take a lot of pride in their ethnic cuisine, there isn’t a doubt in our minds that wrapping one’s head and neck in sausages is most likely not the way to go – or most sanitizing way to prepare a meal.

In Russia, the traditional high school graduation ceremony is commonly known as the Last Bell. During the exciting occasion, a symbolic last school bell is rung by a chosen first-grader, and graduating students wear the classic school uniform white aprons and white hair bows, which is an overlook that is very similar to a French maid outfit. These girls look particularly happy to be done with homework and exams, that’s for sure.

If you are going to present your girlfriend with a necklace, or any piece of jewelry for that matter, it is probably best not to say you fished the accessory right out of the nearby lake. Although the guy did go through the extra effort of tying a string to the fish, this is far from being a diamond ring. We have to say, the girl in the picture does not seem displeased in any way, so perhaps giving out sea creatures as a present is customary in Russia.

Russia can get really cold, and they have incredibly long winters, too. In Moscow, it gets colder every day starting from September, and during the peak of winter, temperatures can drop to about -13F! The Russians have grown a certain resistance to the cold and often resolve to wearing fur to keep warm. However, this guy had a different idea in mind when the cold got too much to handle – and sat down on the bonfire to really feel the heat from within.

If you would’ve had your car stolen several times, you probably would seek out alternative ways to make sure no one could steal it ever again. It is incredibly infuriating to leave your cat at one spot and then come back later to find out that it is missing. If it wasn’t for insurance, people probably would’ve never gotten cars in the first place! The Russian owner of this car probably doesn’t have insurance, however, which is why it placed bricks inside the car – to stop others from stealing it.

Back in Russia, the generation gap has never been bigger. It looks like Maria came downstairs to have a casual sit-down on the bench; perhaps read a book, or just clear her mind. However, there is one Russian tradition everyone should be aware of – the daily “babushka” get togethers downstairs on the benches. It actually doesn’t look like Maria is bothered by the interference, but the babushkas might have a thing or two to say about her outfit. Or three.

Russian women are as tough as they come, and incredibly so since she this one is evidently carrying an enormous truck in icy conditions.

If you are a woman in Russia, expectations are very different. You might want to join the police force and defend your city against criminals and bring them to justice. However, if you’re going to do it, you’re going to do it in style. All these policewomen need is a dress fit for any catwalk and a baton for self-defense. This means that other women can feel safe while they stroll their babies up and down the promenade.

Some schools might require for their students to stand up whenever a teacher enters the room and speak to their educator with the utmost respect. Other schools could also have completely different approaches, such as having the pupils call the teachers by their first name. According to the picture below, Russians have a very different way of punishing their students when they misbehave – they tell them to stand against the wall with their hands behind their backs. Guess detention doesn’t seem that bad now, does it?

The film Bolshoi Babylon put it best when saying Russia is acknowledged worldwide for two things – the Kalashnikov rifle and the Ballet. The country is remarked as having a physique that suits the esthetic requirements of the classical principles, and their training is unique and exquisite. While their choreography is not so extremely innovative, Russians own classical dances and perform them with athleticism, and passion. The girl in the picture below is seen doing her daily stretches while at school. That’s how committed she is to the job.

Most of us aren’t likely to own our own helicopter within our lifetime, and while the future of personalized flying cars is on the way, Russians don’t want to wait that long! Being as resourceful as ever, this Russian suburbanite decided to reverse engineer his own version of a flying helicopter out of an old car and what looks like some spare helicopter parts. Hopefully, it actually works! Either way, this may be the future of personal transport!

Russia is a country known for its cold weather and freezing waters. But that doesn’t stop these adventurous young people from enjoying their own version of a Malibu holiday on the beach. Bikinis, horse-riding, and even wakeboarding all in sub-zero temperatures! I suppose when you aren’t able to travel long distances for your holiday or vacation, you have to improvise. So long as you aren’t scared of a little freezing weather, you’ll be fine! Watch and learn Canada!

We all know how frustrating old people can get from time to time, but most of us have learned to be patient with the elderly. We’re quite sure that’s true in Russia as well, but this farmer seems to have had his fill of these two old ladies. Whether he’s annoyed with them or simply trying to keep them safe, we can’t be sure. But if a picture is worth a thousand words, then I am definitely lost for words here!

Just like in any other country, Russia too has people who stand out and don’t make it their live’s aspiration to fit in with the crowd. The nation is made out of people representing every color and shade in the rainbow in their uniqueness, and this woman is the perfect example for it. She is not a traditional woman, so she didn’t want a traditional wedding dress. To us, this makes perfect sense. To her more conservative and traditional parents, however…

This dish would probably not pass the first screening process of the successful show Master Chef, but believe it or not, this is considered a delicacy in Russia. As a matter of fact, Russian cuisine mostly constitutes of meat or vegetables saturated in mayonnaise and/or sour cream. The specific sandals design made of cheese was made since sandals are very common in the country. In fact, a lot of Russians favor wearing sandals with socks instead of closed shoes.

A lot of girls are not allowed to wear makeup when they are young since is it a grooming act usually reserved for more mature women. However, this girl was so influenced by the film Black Swan, that she decided she would walk around town and even ride the subway with makeup mirroring her favorite character. It’s safe to say this is not a common sight, not even in Russia where the only rule is that there aren’t any rules.

Puttin(g) politics aside, it is interesting to see just how invested this young girl is in her faith. When all hope is lost, even those who do not consider themselves to be spiritual often turn to prayer. It is likely a last resort, but if this young Russian thought bowing down to this printed and framed canvas of the leader of her country would help her out in whatever she had trouble with, we are certainly not going to judge that.

Even if you’re not Russian, you’re probably familiar with this sort of fella; it’s hard to forget the squat and stare after you’ve seen it. In Russia, people like Oleg are sometimes referred to as “gopniks”, and they often spend their spare time sitting in parks, on the sides of roads, or by the local spirits stores in this exact position. Sometimes, Oleg is not alone. Oleg has gopnik friends.

In Russia, cooking isn’t just cooking, it is a sport. It is a battle. If you are cooking with someone else, be prepared to defend yourself. Russians will throw ideas for recipes at each other left, right, and center and are prepared to hit each other with pots and pans if they disagree with each other. Do you want some Beef Stroganoff? Well, you’ve got another thing coming! Give me that bottle of Smirnoff. I like to drink while I cook!

When you go to Russia, you will learn something very interesting. The people of this beautiful country take their waste, and do something a little different with it: they sunbathe on it. Well, a large part of the year in Russia is pretty dark and chilly, so we can’t imagine this happening so often. However, we happened to catch this young lady on the hottest day of the year and she is in the mood for some traditional Russian sunbathing.

Milan might be the fashion capital of the world, but these pictures of street fashion in Russia demonstrate people like to speak their minds through their apparel in Eastern Europe, too. For example, the girl wearing the denim jacket is quite clearly trying out a new hairstyle by pulling her hair through the hole of her shirt. The other picture might be a little too crude for some, but we all remember when the Juicy brand featuring the logo embroidered on sweatpants was the hottest trend out there.

When asked to describe the Russian people, most people probably would not use the word “fun” among the first few adjectives, but that would be a mistake. The truth is, while Russians do have a serious side and take some matters quite heavily (like educating their children, work ethic, and patriotism), they also know how to kick back and have a good time. Here is a picture of a kindergarten in Russia that proves just that by having a several story slide attached to the outside of the building.

A survey sought to discover exactly how many people from different countries have cats in their home, and as it turns out, Russians were the most enthusiastic cat owners. More than half of the Russian respondents had cats. When questioned why it is so, scientists claimed the love for the feline is due to the peculiarities of culture. One explained: “We do not use the word train here because it implies forcing an animal to do something, and you cannot force cats to do anything they don’t want to.”

Posing is something that is hard not to come across these days – just from strolling down the park you can probably come across at least 5 people taking photos of themselves or others. Smartphones are owned by all and with the incredible invention comes a portable camera, ready to snap anything remotely interesting. These Russian women definitely wanted to take advantage of this.

Norway, a country known for Vikings, fjords, mountains, and The Scream painting by Edward Munch, has a lot more to offer. This Scandinavian country has some unique and bedazzling details and features that you might don’t know about. Like any other country, Norway stands out to give people a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here is the list of these facts you never knew you needed to know and impress your family and friends with the knowledge.

Is there anything more boring than waiting for your bus? Well, Norway isn’t a place for boredom. It puts much effort into keeping people cozy. People in this country are fond of comfort and coziness to experience a homey feeling even outside.

Norwegians, unlike other countries, try to make every public and private place warm with a cozy makeover. The public transport stops are redecorated into beautiful seating areas with a pinch of modernism.

Norway is home to Hell. A little over 1000 Norwegians live in Hell in Norway and is an attraction to many tourists. In reality, Hell in Norway is a small village whose signboard is photographed very often.

Unlike the fictitious hell, it is a quiet village with a small shopping center and a hotel, among other local facilities. The village is within walking distance of Trondheim’s international airport. Visiting this Hell will surely be a heavenly experience.

Norway is found to serve the best kindergarten food for the kids. Unlike usual kindergarten food, Norway is known for providing better kid appetizers. The soup which is given to kids very often in other countries is given to Norwegian children only once a week at most.

The picture shows the food served to children in Norway, and it truly looks much healthier and mouth-watering than the food served to kids around the world.

Yes, you heard it right; one can find The Scream here. The Scream is a painting drawn by Edvard Munch and considered to be Norway’s most iconic painting. But do you know that it has been stolen twice? The first version of the painting was stolen in 1994, and after 10 years, another version was stolen.

One of the four versions of ‘The Scream’ was sold for about $120 million, which had given it a place in the Guinness World Record for being the world’s most expensive painting

There is a town in Norway named Longyearbyen where no one is buried. You can say that it is a rule which is equally strange and morbid. However, from the past 80 years, no one has indeed been buried in Longyearbyen.

It is because Longyearbyen is a city underlain by permafrost that does not allow the bodies to decompose. But it is not like the deceased are never buried; they are buried but somewhere else.

Now, it may seem cruel that parents let their babies sleep outside in the shivering cold. But it is not because Norwegian parents are negligent, but they think that letting babies sleep in the cold will make them immune to viruses and other diseases and will make babies habitual of cold conditions.

A lot of pictures on the internet are available where one can see strollers parked in the snow with babies sleeping in it that may be disturbing to many people but not for Norwegians. It is pretty common in Norway.

Every year, since 1947, Oslo, the capital of Norway, gives a Christmas tree to the United Kingdom that is decorated in typical Norwegian style in Trafalgar Square in London. This Christmas present is a sign to thank you to the UK, who helped Norway during World War II.

To endorse this gratitude, the citizens of the UK gather around Trafalgar Square every year to gaze at the beauty of the tree. No wonder Norway is the home of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Many have heard the renowned and iconic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And honestly, who would not want to explore Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. But do you know that this tale was based on the Freia chocolate factory located in Oslo that is as magical as depicted in the fiction?

The main reason behind this is that the author of this child novel Roald Dahl himself was Norwegian and could speak the Scandinavian language too. It is no wonder that this fantasy is based in Norway.

There are indeed more Norwegians who live outside Norway than they live in Norway. While Norwegians are more concentrated in America, it is also believed that the Norwegians living in the USA outnumber that of Norway.

The Norwegians population has propagated since Minnesota became the informal capital of Norway, where about 16% of people are of Norwegian background. Norwegian communities are further spread in Wisconsin, California, North Dakota, and Washington.

One of the many attractions of tourists is the North Cape which is a 1000-foot-high cliff. It is generally referred to as the northernmost point over all Europe. The fact behind this attraction is that it is much closer to the North Pole than it is to the capital of Norway.

Even though the North Cape is far away from Oslo, one can reach there even via car to enjoy the beautiful views.

Almost everyone is fond of cheese. Brown cheese, also known as Brunost, is counted among the most popular food items in Norway. If you are fond of traditional cheese, then you should try Brunost. It is mostly preferred with breakfast in Norway.

Not only the Brunost, but Norway also originated some world-renowned cheesemakers like Ostegarden and Tingvoll, who are not only renowned in the cheese industry but also brought home the World Cheese Award in 2016 and 2018.

In a world where manual labor and manual work is underrated, Norway stands out from the crowd. The people of Norway highly prefer and value the labor done using hand. The country highly respects manual labor, and one can even expect good pay for it.

Anything that requires manual work like making a piece of furniture or making a piece of machinery is a highly recommended profession in Norway due to high earnings.

Norway is one of the eco-friendly countries in the world. It is common in Norway to drive electric cars. Along with it, the government of Norway has provided an incentive to make money out of trash.

What is more important than reducing plastic waste by recycling it? Many machines have been installed at various local places in Norway; they read the barcode of the bottles and in return give a check providing a discount for the shopping.

Olympics bring fame to the country. While most Summer Olympics are dominated by countries like the USA, China, and Russia, Norway has imprinted over the Winter Olympics. Norway has proven to be one of the most successful countries in the Winter Olympics.

Norway has been rocking the Winter Olympics since the starting with a total collection of 368 medals. While countries like the USA and Germany are lagging behind.

People love pizza, but honestly, Norwegians are obsessed with pizza- a particular brand of pizza. In many countries, brands such as Domino’s Pizza and Pizza hut rule, but Norway prefers the renowned Grandiosa.

Grandiosa is a frozen pizza that is omnipresent all over Norway. It can be referred to as the unofficial national dish. It is so popular that people are obsessed with it. Every year 24 million Grandiosa pies are eaten in Norway.

People love their private space, but Norwegians are too private. They prefer being private, even in public places. Even in places that are too tight, Norwegians keep their distance from each other. They rarely interact with strangers.

Norwegians also respect the privacy of each other. One can easily see a Norwegian in a bus occupying two seats facing the window with headphones in. If you try to sit next to them, be ready for a strange look.

Today, gas prices are increasing rapidly. It has become common to pay more pennies for a fuel-up. But Norway is well ahead of the race, even in this aspect. Gas is expensive in Norway. While America charges about $2.99, Norway can charge up to $7.82 for a gallon-of-gas.

Though Norway has substantial oil reserves, the country has a different approach to utilizing its national budget. They prefer to make use of their national budget in other areas.

Norway is a very peaceful country with low crime rates. It is known as a country that is neutral in reputation. It’s no wonder that it is the home of the Nobel Peace Prize. While Sweden hosts most Nobel prize ceremonies, Nobel Peace Price is held in Norway’s capital, Oslo.

Another reason why Norway is the Nobel Peace Prize distributor is that the award that was named after the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel allocated the prize to Norway in his will.

When talking about coffee consumption, one is most likely to count the names of countries such as the US, Brazil, or Columbia on the top. However, Norway isn’t far behind with the long list of coffee drinkers in the country.

Norwegians love coffee; the average Norwegian consumes about 9.9kg of coffee every year. Now 9.9kg is pretty big as it makes more than three bags of coffee.

When thinking about Norway, the first thought that pops up is about snow and cold weather. It won’t be an unusual thing to consider that Norway birthed Skiing. What is now known as modern Skiing was invented by a poor tenant farmer named Sondre Norheim.

Almost a century and a half ago, he invented his pair of skis in a village in Norway’s Telemark region that allowed him to tackle steeper slopes with minimal risk of falling.

Almost every Scandinavian country has expensive food, and Norway is no exception. However, it is specifically more expensive to have food in Oslo and the surrounding cities. It is interesting to note that the Norwegian food produced in Norway is considerably cheaper in Sweden.

An average Norwegian earns about 4000 euros per month while this amount further reduces for waiters and plumbers, and yet they have to pay 180 euros per week to feed a family of three.

Oslo is counted among one of the greenest cities in the world. It is one of the leading eco-friendly cities in Europe. Norway is considering eco-friendly transportation as a primary choice, and thus, people in Norway are encouraged to purchase electric vehicles.

The country is one of the leading countries in terms of renewable energy. 98% of electricity is generated from renewable sources in Norway. It uses a hydropower plant as a source of electricity.

In Norway, many babies are born before September 1st. It has nothing to do with astrology and mainly because they could have the upper hand at school. In many countries, the starting date of kindergarten is September 1st, and thus, a baby born before September would be the oldest and most developed in the class.

Norwegians usually try to make sure that baby is born before September to get a secured and higher hand in kindergarten. This benefit continues to grow when the babies get older.

Some employers expect one to insert a photo in their resume, while for some, it would be a deal-breaker. There are very few countries where inserting a photo is considered crucial, and Norway is one of them. Not only this, the photo in the resume needs to be happy.

It is considered that a happy photo will increase the chances of getting hired. A happy photo in a resume is a must for Norwegian regardless of the industry they are applying for, but it might potentially work against you in other countries.

King Olav V once took public transport during the oil crisis in December 1973. The royal family has been mingling with the common public, over the years, for one reason or the other. King paying for his ticket in the tram is one of the most iconic photos.

To save gas during the oil crisis, the government had declared no car weekends. With no cars being operated, King Olav decided to take a tram to a ski resort.

Voss is a water brand of artesian bottled water widely known for its iconic water bottle. Its origin can be traced back to Norway. Voss is a Norwegian-based brand that comes from the village of Vatnestrom in Iceland municipality.

However, because of the name, there is a common rumor that the water is bottled up in the municipality of Voss. The municipality of Voss is 250 miles from the actual bottling site.

Norway is home to the longest road tunnel in the world, Laerdal Tunnel, which is 15 miles long. The architecture of this tunnel is admired and adored all around the world.

Due to its extravagant appeal and features, it cost the government a total of 1 billion Norwegian Kroner, which is equal to $110 million. The tunnel was opened in November 2000 and is well lit. The lighting varies throughout the tunnel and provides a great view.

Along with the longest tunnel in the world, Norway is also famous for its longest iceless fjord in the world. No one is sure about how long Norway’s epic fjord is. Sognefjorden is the largest fjord in Norway and the second-largest in the world.

This ice-free fjord stretches about 205km inland from the ocean, which is an incredible viewpoint for tourists and locals in Norway.

Dublin, which is now the capital of Ireland, was founded by Norwegians all way back in AD 836. It was once a Viking settlement. In the early 9th century, Vikings arrived in Ireland to settle there. This settlement was named Dyflin that later became Dublin.

Vikings were defeated by the Irish High King Brian Boru and his army in 1014, and thus, they had to leave Dublin after ruling it for almost 300 years. There is a museum called Dublin where visitors can meet the Viking’s face-to-face.

Norwegians are very fond of reading. They are the biggest bookworms who read more than any other population in the world. The demand for books in Norway is very high. Over 2000 book titles are published every year.

An average Norwegian is found to have spent around 500 NOK, equivalent to $76 a year per capita on books only. Authors like Jo Nesbo and Karl-Ove Knausgard are following the footsteps of literary giants Knut Hamsun and Henrik Ibsen to carry on the legacy.

One of the most famous architectural inventions of Norway is the Stave Church. Coming straight out of a fantasy story, these wooden churches are widely famous. During the middle ages, these singular wood-churches were first constructed.

Stave Churches have an imprint of Viking handiworks. There were a thousand Stave Churches across Norway. However, only 28 of them remain standing today. The majority of which are located in the inner parts of Eastern Norway and Fjord Norway.

Svalbard is an island 2030km north of Oslo and 1050km south of the North Pole. It is the requirement to stay armed in Svalbard when leaving a settlement. Unlike any other country where you may get imprisoned for being armed or having any weapon without a license, the government enforces the citizens to not leave their shelter without being armed.

The main reason is that this region is close to a polar bear area, and one may encounter a bear at any time.

Today, where matching clothes, accessories, or hair color is considered to strengthen love, buying furniture from IKEA with your significant other or your love interest strengthens the bond between them in Norway.

It has become a unique tradition in Norway and has attracted the attention of many people too. Doing this ritual means that the couple is getting closer to one another.

It is dangerous to drive above the speeding limit, and the punishment for speeding varies from country to country. The punishment for speeding is not that harsh, as one generally expects a fine for speeding. But Norway works differently. One can go to jail for speeding if anyone is caught driving 90 mph or more on the freeway.

In Norway, if you get busted for speeding, you will be sent to “Ilseng work camp” to work on furniture, etc. The punishment is similar to that of being caught with illegal substances.

Vikings are mostly related to Norway and so do the Norwegians take pride in their Viking connection. But as time went on, various myths started propagating about Viking fashion. A common Viking imagery is them wearing helmets with horns.

However, Vikings were very fond of drinking, and they did drink from polished horns. Their favorite drink was a fermented beer-like drink named mead.

The Norwegian government is very strict about speeding. However, there is no life imprisonment given to any criminal. Life sentences are enforced by almost all countries but not Norway.

Norway’s prison system has been praised as one of the most humane and forward-thinking that focuses more on rehabilitation. Moreover, it has low reoffending rates. After abolishing life sentences in 1971, the maximum imprisonment time that anyone can serve in jail is 21 years.

All hospitals of Norway are funded by the national budget. Most people assume that healthcare in Norway is free of charge, which is not true for everyone. Residents who are older than 16 years must pay a deductible every year before becoming eligible for an exemption card. The person having this card is entitled to free healthcare for the remainder of the year.

The person again needs to pay the deductible in the next year. However, any person younger than 16 years is exempted from the charge.

Toll roads can be easily found all over the world. Drivers can often be stopped at a toll road in Norway which is an annoyance to them. The toll roads are used to fund the road building of the country, and the main aim is to develop better and faster road infrastructure.

Around 190 toll stations are in Norway. If one wants to visit a different district for shopping or even to go to work, they have to pay to use the toll road.

Norwegians are very private and conserved. They don’t smile at people in the streets and usually keep up to themselves. Unlike what people may think, they don’t have any ill feelings towards others on the road. They just love their privacy.

Norwegians usually don’t converse much on the streets either. A simple tap on the shoulder is the norm for getting someone’s attention.

Now, this may sound fictitious, but it’s true. Along with many other people guarding the king, there is a penguin named Nils Olav, who is also referred to as the guard of the king. Nils Olav has held the title since 2005.

The regiment adopted a penguin from Edinburgh Zoo in 1972 named it Nils Ovan. The name has been passed down to three penguins since. The current holder of the rank of king penguin is Nils Olav III.

Moose has always been an attraction seeker in Norway; they are so much regarded that the country has created a big sculpture of moose. However, they got into a battle with Canada regarding the tallest moose structure, which garnered international attention.

This North American country once bragged about their moose statute being the tallest, but in 2015, they lost to Norway, which outshined them with a silver statue of moose that was 12 inches taller than that of Canada.

Norway is a country that celebrates motherhood in a very special way. The country offers the highest level of maternity benefits which includes nine months long maternity leave. Furthermore, the maternity leave can be extended up to a year.

There is also good statutory pay granted during maternity leave. Even during the first week of kindergarten, a parent is allowed to stay with their kid for a majority of the time; this time decreases gradually as the kid gets used to the kindergarten.

Norwegians are very much connected with their Viking ethnicity and culture. Even today, one can see the tint of Viking culture in Norwegian food. As opposed to some misconceptions, Vikings had a relatively healthy and stable diet which includes some superfood.

The Viking superfood-like skyr, which is a fermented, creamy yogurt-like cheese, is eaten in Norway with other delicacies. Viking’s travels and trades also gave them access to various kinds of spices.

Norway is home to the longest tunnel, longest iceless fjords, and the biggest mountain plateau. The country is also home to the biggest mountain plateau. Hardangervidda is the largest mountain plateau and one of its kind in all of Europe.

The country is also home to one of the largest glaciers known as Hardangerjokulen. The reindeer population in Norway is also large in these areas. Interestingly enough, the population is also the largest on the continent.

The Norwegian kids love to go out. They are very zealous to explore their surroundings, regardless of the freezing winter or weather. As mothers don’t mind keeping their kids out in strollers in winter, they grew up to be more outgoing and adventurous.

As the crime rate in Norway is very low, parents don’t worry much about the safety of their children. Unlike many parents who worry about their kids playing in puddles, Norwegian parents are completely ok with it.