“In the hush of fjords so deep,

Where the ancient waters sleep,

Mountains rise like silent kings,

Crowned with snow and eagle wings.”

From Land of Light and Silence by The Global Symphony

Rugged is an understatement. Norway’s much-indented coastline features 239,057 islands and 81,192 islets. One of the world's northernmost countries, it’s also one of Europe's most mountainous countries, dominated by the Scandinavian Mountains.

Interestingly, this country-length chain of peaks is geologically continuous with the mountains of Scotland, Ireland, and after crossing under the Atlantic Ocean, our own Appalachian Mountains. Before the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Panaea 200 million years ago, it was a single mountain range.

During the ice ages, Norway was covered with a thick sheet of ice. Movement of the ice carved out deep valleys. When the ice retreated and melted, the sea filled many of these valleys, creating Norway's 1,190 fjords.

Despite being at the same northern latitude as Alaska and Siberia, Norway's climate is milder than you expect. The Norwegian Current, an extension of the Gulf Stream, brings warmer waters to the coast, moderating the climate. During my recent November trip centered in Trondheim, Norway, it never felt all that cold.

Rather than trying to further describe this lovely country, I invite you to view a music video at Songs About Countries #62: Norway – “Land of Light and Silence” | A Nordic Song of Fjords.

The Shot

The climate may be mild, but winds off the Atlantic often bring rain, and that was the case for our entire week of photography.

Wendigo: Winter Cannibal Monster, the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary

The Wendigo (or Windigo) is a spirit strongly associated with the north country, winter, cold, famine, and starvation. It has its origins in Algonquian (Ojibwe, Saulteaux, Cree, Naskapi, and Innu) folklore. A Wendigo imbues its victims with a feeling of insatiable hunger, the desire to eat other humans, and the propensity to commit murder.

This entity is notably large, with a height ranging from ten feet to that of the pine trees commonly found in northern forests. Described as humanlike, but emaciated, its face is blackened by frostbite and missing lips and cheeks because it chewed them off in its hunger for human flesh.

George M. Eberhart succinctly describes the Wendigo diet in his book Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology: “Eats people, especially children.” Truly it is a personification of the ice, hunger, cold, death, despondence, and desperation that rime the winter wastelands of North America.

From Wendigo Creature - World History Encyclopedia

In some traditions, humans overpowered by greed could turn into Wendigos. This version encouraged cooperation and moderation in an environment where trust and teamwork are critical traits for survival. Other traditions claim Wendigos originated from humans who practiced cannibalism. Finally, humans could also transform into Wendigos by being in prolonged contact with them.

Wendigo has been a literary figure since the early 1900s. And it often appears in the work of contemporary North Woods author and novelist William Kent Krueger.

Recently, Wendigo is portrayed as a winter spirit resembling a humanoid deer with antlers. You can enjoy a Cannibal Burger stuffed with tenderloin and bacon at the Wendigo Restaurant in Stoughton, Wisconsin. You can also visit Windigo Fest every October in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to enjoy haunted attractions, a spooky parade, live music, and sideshows.

From Pinterest "Wendigo" by Roman Sachnow

The Shot

It was a dark, chilly, gloomy November 7 morning when our photography group walked to Artist Point in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Our destination was the rocky shore lined with interesting shapes and leading lines.

Friend and fellow photographer Jon Christofersen caught me setting up my image.