Over half of Norway's land surface area consists of treeless mountain tops, where the only vegetation consists of shrubs, mosses and lichens. Approximately one third of the nation's surface area is covered by forest. The most common Norwegian trees are spruce and birch. Norwegian wood is widely used as a raw material in the milling and paper industries.

The sea is important part of Norwegian nature. Fishing and fish farming are some of the most important Norwegian livelihoods. The sea also offers transportation routes for people and cars in the mountainous and difficult terrain. 

One of the worlds' most famous shipping routes, the Hurtigruten, travels for over two thousand kilometres from the city of Bergen to the city of Kirkenes on the Arctic Ocean. The name of the route literally means "the quick route", but the journey still takes 11 days. 

The Atlantic Ocean and its Gulf Stream provide warmth to the Norwegian coast. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the Norwegian harbours do not freeze during the winter. 

The maritime climate of Norway is characterized by rain. Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in all of Europe. During the summer, the rain falls down as water, whereas during the winter it falls down as snow.