Norway
Polar Plunge Q&A: everything you need to know
The Polar Plunge is a fearsome rite of passage for visitors to Antarctica and the Arctic. Here, we share what you need to know so you can leap with ease I still remember the moment I learnt about the Polar Plunge. I was at home in London on a typically gloomy day in the mid 2010s. I was wasting time online when I came across an article about Antarctica. Sadly, I can’t remember the writer’s name, but the photo of her was joyous: midway through the Polar Plunge, her body drawn into a starfish shape, a jubilant smile on her face. It was so pure and fun, and completely unselfconscious in a way that women are taught not to be. I decided that one day I too would take the Plunge. Fast forward seven years and I’ve done it in both Antarctica and the Arctic. To help you decide whether or not t...
In photos: 20 reasons to visit Svalbard
From vast landscapes and giant glaciers to sly foxes and posing seals, we share some of the myriad reasons to visit Svalbard in the Arctic Known as the last stop before the North Pole, Svalbard proved to be the Arctic we had always imagined: midnight sun, gleaming glaciers and snowcapped peaks, a frigid ocean riddled with ice and extraordinary wildlife including walruses, sea birds and polar bears. We visited the remote archipelago on an 8-day Svalbard expedition with Albatros Expeditions aboard the Ocean Atlantic where we sailed in the perpetual sunlight of the Arctic summer. Our route took us from the main town of Longyearbyen around the west coast of Spitsbergen, Svalbard’s largest island, where we dropped anchor in sheltered fjords to make landings and Zodiac excursions. We t...
Under the midnight sun: a surreal trip to Svalbard
In the land of the midnight sun, Kia finds a place of raw nature, rare wildlife and one of her most memorable moments of travel It is said that you can’t die in Svalbard, the remote archipelago that lies midway between Norway and the North Pole. The permafrost here not only preserves corpses, it sometimes pushes them to the surface. The truth is that authorities would prefer you didn’t die on Svalbard. Coffin burials are not allowed due to the permafrost, so critically-ill patients are usually flown to mainland Norway. And just as there are rules in death, there are also rules in life. Heavily pregnant women are flown to the mainland as giving birth in Svalbard is also off limits. In many ways, this is a place occupied by life and death. The capital, Longyearbyen, is home to th...
Wild continent: the best national parks in Europe
The best national parks in Europe are home to vast tracts of wilderness, often overlooked by those who flock to its cities When we think of wild continents, Europe is probably last in line. Asia’s fearsome mountains, South America’s lush rainforest and Africa’s vast savannah are surely more impressive. Europe in comparison is famous for its cities: London, Paris, Rome and their ilk. But venture further and you’ll find gigantic glaciers, primeval forests and untouched tracts of wilderness. These areas are quite rightly protected in national parks. To help you explore the wild side of the continent, we share below the best national parks in Europe. Jostedalsbreen National Park Location: NorwayMore info: Official site Jostedalsbreen National Park is home to the largest glacier on contin...
Giveaway: Win VIP Tickets to Norway’s Stavern Festival 2022 With Madeon, Major Lazer, More
Boasting superstar headliners, a plethora of dance music talent and food vendors with local delicacies, Stavern Festival is arguably one of the most exciting festivals in Norway. 21 years after its 2001 debut, Stavern is now returning for its biggest event yet with an estimated attendance of 80,000 from July 7-9. Hosted on the Larvik Golf Arena in South Norway, the three-day festival will provide a rich experience for attendees, who will be able to enjoy massive stage production and immerse themselves in the nearby forests to unwind and explore. Just like every year, Stavern Festival is striving to curate a diverse lineup which will include something for every taste. This year’s headliners include Cardi B, The Kid LAROI, Major Lazer and Norwegian acts A-ha and Sondre Justad. Addition...
Major Lazer, Madeon, ACRAZE and More to Perform at Norway’s Stavern Festival 2022
Since its debut edition in 2001, Stavern has established itself as one of Norway’s premier festivals. From its humble beginnings of an attendance of 75,000 back in 2019, the event now offers an unmatched festival experience in the Land of Midnight, bringing together diverse sounds from across the globe. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Stavern Festival is finally returning to the Larvik Golf Arena in South Norway for its biggest edition to date. Taking place July 7-9, the can’t-miss fest will include camping, a slew of local food vendors, massive ferris wheel, silent disco and so much more. While the Norwegian waffles and baked potatoes are bound to be enjoyed by attendees, the incredible lineup is undoubtedly Stavern Festival’s main attraction. With each edition ov...
Both Teams To Score Tips For Accumulators: Best BTTS Tips Today Sunday 12th June 2022
We’re taking a look ahead to Sunday’s fixtures, with Nations League action taking place. There are three ‘both teams to score’ selections in total, and a combined accumulator has odds amounting to roughly 5/1. 888Sport are also offering customers the chance to claim £30 in free bets – read on to find out more. Top 5 New Football Betting Sites Sites Highlights Register 4. Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets Both Teams To Score Tips With a combined total odds of roughly 5/1, a £30 stake using 888Sport’s welcome bonus would yield a returns of around £160! How to Claim the 888Sport Betting Offer? 888Sport’s offer is one of the best around and is simple to claim. Follow our three-step guide below, your £30 worth of free bets. Click here to sign up to 888sport and deposit using promo code 30FB. Place a...
Football Accumulator Betting Tips for Sunday 12th June 2022: Back Our 7/1 Three-Fold With A Free Bet
Ahead of Sunday’s UEFA Nations League action, we have picked out three fixtures for a 7/1 accumulator – better yet, customers yet to register with Virgin Bet can get a £20 free bet to use across their platform. Three legs make up our Sunday accumulator, which has odds of roughly 7/1. A £10 stake would return around £80 (Odds subject to change). Football Accumulator Tips Football Accumulator Betting Offer: Virgin Bet – Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets Virgin Bet are offering new customers the chance to get £20 worth of free bets upon signing up. Simply place a £10 qualifying bet , and you’ll receive £20 in free bets in return. Just follow the step-by-step guide below to redeem yours. Top 5 New Football Betting Sites Sites Highlights Register 4. Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets Already claimed Virgi...
Tether is ‘instrument of freedom’ and ‘Bitcoin onramp,’ says Bitfinex CTO
On a sun-splashed day in the Swiss Alps, the chief technology officer of Bitfinex and Tether, Paolo Ardoino, shed light on the Plan B Lugano strategy, Tether as an onramp into Bitcoin (BTC) and —crucially — his favorite pizza toppings. Fresh off the plane from Norway, where Ardoino attended an increasingly Bitcoiner-friendly event, the Oslo Freedom Forum, the Italian explained that, in contrast to the WEF,there was no “shilling” in Norway. Tether was invited to speak at the Oslo Freedom Forum as the stablecoin is increasingly considered an “instrument of freedom.” Tether has been adopted by the Myanmar government while the Ukrainian government has accepted crypto donations, including Tether, since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war. “Tether is one of the tools to be used by di...
Microsoft-Made Glass Encoded With Thousands of Songs Headed to Doomsday Vault in Norway
LONDON —A Norwegian company that is planning to create a doomsday vault to preserve the world’s most important music works has partnered with Microsoft on what it calls a “paradigm-breaking” storage solution capable of holding recordings for many thousands of years. Oslo-based Elire Group teamed up with the tech giant to come up with a “proof of concept” silica glass platter that can be used as a medium for storing master-quality digital copies of music recordings, which are burnt into the glass using state-of-the-art laser optics. Elire plans to initially store the glass capsules in a dedicated space inside the Arctic World Archive, an existing underground storage facility located on a remote arctic island midway between Norway and the North Pole. Opened in 2017, the Arctic World Archive ...
Both Teams To Score Tips For Accumulators: Best BTTS Tips Today Sunday 5th June 2022
We’re taking a look ahead to Sunday’s fixtures, with playoff action for the World Cup and National League taking place alongside international fixtures. There are three ‘both teams to score’ selections in total, and a combined accumulator has odds amounting to roughly 4/1. 888Sport are also offering customers the chance to claim £30 in free bets – read on to find out more. Top 5 New Football Betting Sites Sites Highlights Register 4. Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets Both Teams To Score Tips With a combined total odds of roughly 4.5/1, a £30 stake using 888Sport’s welcome bonus would yield a returns of around £160! How to Claim the 888Sport Betting Offer? 888Sport’s offer is one of the best around and is simple to claim. Follow our three-step guide below, your £30 worth of free bets. Click here...
Football Accumulator Betting Tips for Thursday: Back Our 37.67/1 Three-Fold With A Free Bet
Looking ahead to Thursday, we have picked out three selections ready for an accumulator. With combined total odds of roughly 37.67/1 on bet365, new customers can also benefit from a massive £50 welcome bonus. Three legs make up our Monday accumulator, which has odds of roughly 37.67/1. A £10 stake would return around £370 (Odds subject to change). Football Accumulator Tips Monday Accumulator Free Bet – bet365 Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets £50 worth of free bets can be yours ready for the action on Monday – see below for details: Click here to sign up to bet365. Place a bet of £10 or greater at odds of 1/5 or more. You’ll then receive £50 in free bets. Bet £10 Get £50 In Bet Credits Claim Offer Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settleme...
