The distinctive white beaches in the north are formed by degraded calcareous shells from shellfish and marine organisms. The ravages of time have ground these pieces down to tiny particles, which today make it very comfortable for Arctic visitors to lie on. Should you get so comfortable that you fall asleep to the sound of the rhythmic waves, the good news is that you don’t really need to worry about getting particularly sunburnt…
Nor do you need to worry about being run off a Northern Norwegian beach. In Norway, the law of public right of access is strong. This right means that all of nature, including the greater part of the long coastline, is open to all. That means that anyone who wants, can anchor a boat, put up a tent, or, yes, spend a summer night on, for instance, a beach. With a few provisions and a desire to explore you can thus become king or queen of your own island – as long as the royal highnesses remember to clean up after themselves after abdicating.
Because, unfortunately, Norwegian beaches are not exempt from marine pollution. In recent years, however, Norwegians and visitors alike have become more conscious of the big problem related to pollution of the oceans, and how plastic garbage affects animal life along the coastlines. This has led to countless volunteer cleanup campaigns, where anyone who wants to can help make a difference for the environment. Often such cleanup campaigns turn into social events, where you get the chance to meet the local driving forces while helping protect the unique, Arctic nature for posterity.