Norway Norwegen Norge

Pictures from northern Norway

Photo of roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) – natures own viagra

Photo of roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) - natures own viagra
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 9th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

Roseroot (Rosenrot in Norwegian) is a plant that lives in the colder climate areas like the Arctic and it’s growing throughout Norway. You can often find it growing straight out of cliff sides.

In the recent years there have been lots of fuss about the roseroot plant because it is said to have many medical qualities, but it has actually been used in folk medicine for over 3000 years.
Later studies has shown roseroot to be a great medical herb. The list of beneficial qualities is long!
Roseroot is known to improve memory, good against depression, stabilize blood pressure, reducing stress hormones, contains lots of antioxidants, stabilize cholesterol and blood sugar levels and probably much more.
There is also being done research to check its qualities against cancer.

I have to mention that roseroot is a libido booster for both woman and men so I guess you can call it natures own viagra! The herb is being sold in many health food stores here in Norway and I believe it’s pretty big business. Have you ever seen roseroot for sale?

Here you can see how it’s growing wild in the nature.
Photo of roseroot (Rhodiola rosea) - natures own viagra
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 9th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

Information about the pictures:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital single-lens reflex camera
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Ånstad (Andørja), Troms in northern Norway

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Photo of Arctic Skua / Parasitic Jaeger bird

Photo of Arctic Skua / Parasitic Jaeger bird
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 4th 2007. Click image for larger view.

This is an Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) also known as Parasitic Jaeger in North America. These birds are so fascinating to observe (I know I say this a lot but there is nothing more fascinating than the nature) because they chase other birds like seagulls and terns. They are chasing other birds to get the birds to drop whatever they are eating.
Skuas are the pirates of the bird world!

I found a couple of arctic skuas on a marsh pretty far inland. They were probably breeding because a fox came by and the birds attacked it violently. Did I say that I find the nature extremely fascinating?

Here is another photo of the bird sitting on the marsh.
Photo of Arctic Skua / Parasitic Jaeger bird
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 4th 2007. Click image for larger view.

This photo is cropped so it’s not as sharp as I want it to be. I’m saving for a lens with longer reach so I can take more wildlife photos.

Information about the pictures:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 150 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 40-150mm F3.5-4.5
Location: Ånstadbotn, Andørja (Ibestad) in northern Norway

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Macro photo of common hawker dragonfly

Was able to capture a dragonfly called Common Hawker (Aeshna juncea) when I was out walking in the forest. These insects are big (74 mm) and very camera shy so I had to try several times to get close enough.

It was very entertaining to observe them hunt in the air hunting moths. They have amazing flying capabilities!

First a close up photo of its “face”.
Macro photo of Common Hawker dragonfly
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 4th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

And here is a picture of the whole dragonfly.
Photo of Common Hawker dragonfly
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 4th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Ånstadbotn (Andørja), Troms in northern Norway

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Photo from a marsh filled with mist

Photo from a marsh filled with mist
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on July 4th 2007. Click image for larger view.

I was out walking in the nature and at midnight the sun disappeared behind some mountains. This mist started to form over the wetlands. It looked very ghostly and was a bit eerie, but at the same time very fascinating.

The tree is a small birch.

Have you ever experienced fog like this?

This photo got popular on Flickr and reached #79 on Flickr Explore 4th of July.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/4.5
Focal Length: 150 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 40-150mm F3.5-4.5
Location: Ånstadbotn, Andørja (Ibestad) in Northern Norway

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Macro photo of hoverfly on a poppy flower

Macro photo of hoverfly on a poppy flower
Taken with Olympus E500 digital camera on June 24th, 2007. Click image for larger view.

These hoverflies are so fascinating and beautiful. Their beauty doesn’t get hurt from sitting on a poppy flower.
The blue spots in the background are forget-me-not flowers.

Check out my other hoverfly picture here.

Information about the picture:
Camera: Olympus E-500 digital single-lens reflex camera
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 35 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Lens: Olympus Zuiko Digital 35mm F3.5 Macro
Location: Laupstad (Andørja), Troms in northern Norway

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