Welcome to the far Nordic country known for its delicious salmon, northern lights and some of the happiest people on Earth. The chances are, as an American, you haven’t heard much about Norway, and we’re about to change that.

This corner of Reddit titled “Norway” is a perfect place to get to know this incredibly beautiful and intriguing country a little bit better. With 286k members, the community is dedicated to sharing pictures of anything Norway-related, from culture to nature, from memes to Nordic jokes.

Below we wrapped up some of the most interesting pics that shed a light on what life in Norway is like.

#1 Why Is Norway So Good At Winter Olympics?

Image credits: VariationLost3244

#2 Narth Dall Yun Juh

Image credits: magicwolfdog

#3 Saw This On R/Sweden, Thought It Would Fit Here Too

Image credits: noobcorni

Norway is known as one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, where people, nature, and animals all live in harmony. To find out more about what it’s like, we spoke with Stian Samuelsen, a nature photographer based in what he calls “the top of Europe, at 70° 11′ 57”N,” in the subarctic part of Norway.

Stian is inspired by the raw nature around him, the spectacular Varanger peninsula, the inland, and the woods of Pasvik. Through the photographs, Stian tries to show the rest of the world the spectacular beauty of the northern lights and the midnight sun.

#4 Norway Here I Come!!

Image credits: SadFrodo401

#5 Ok, Men Hva I Helvete Skjedde Egentlig? (Hej Från Sverige)

Image credits: reddit.com

#6

Image credits: bishybishhh

“It’s spectacular when you can’t get enough of the aurora, and the lovely midnight sun. Or when you just want to hide from the storms, or the extreme cold we get here, with -40C almost every winter, luckily it doesn’t last for long, but it bites you when it comes!”

“My interest in photography started in my first real job when I worked with printing plates and film at a printing company in Alta in the late ’90s. I was around great photographers and looked at their great works, and I remember I wanted to be as good as them. But, my job paid little, so I decided to change direction and got a job with my father-in-law, as a truck driver, and that is what I did for the next 20 years, and still partly do,” Stian recounted.

#7 Elsker Dere Alle

Image credits: WingsOvSorrow

#8 A Village In Norway

Image credits: JPPT1974

#9 Norway – Here I Come!

Image credits: Spisepinne

In 2016, the photographer was going through a difficult time. “I suffered from serious depression, and things were pretty bad. A good pal of mine, who is a photographer, picked me up, took me out on photography trips, and inspired me to regain the interest that had been slowly gone over the years.”

Stian said it changed when he was reminded of his great talent for photography and decided to get his first DSLR, a Canon 760d. “And suddenly I got a hobby that I really enjoyed, and at the same time I was able to get out in nature and enjoy the beauty that surrounded me.”

#10 Anyway

Image credits: Gypsy-Jesus

#11 The American Education System Strikes Again!

Image credits: ALevel85Jew

#12 Walking My Dogs This Morning

Image credits: PlinketyPlinkaPlink

Being in nature, Stian realized, had a healing power on him. “Slowly, my head started getting better, focusing on something other than the bad things in life. And now I am a semi-pro photographer, working with what I enjoy the most, nature, and capturing it,” he told us.

More than anything, Stian enjoys the calmness in nature, the sounds, “whether it’s the birds or waves, or wind.” He added that “being outside with a campfire, under the northern lights is just magic for my soul.”

#13 The American Dream

Image credits: SadFrodo401

#14 Look Out For Us

Image credits: sillychillly

#15 This Is What It Feels Like As An American Who Has Spent Time In Norway

Image credits: RomneysBainer

On the other hand, Stian believes that many people in Norway are growing more distant from nature than the previous generations. “But it might just be that social media is telling a false story,” he added.

Stian explained that at least in his part of Norway, being out in nature is a very common thing to do. “The hunt and fishing culture is strong up here in the north. Being outside, using nature is a part of our culture, especially in the Sami community.”

#16 No Lies Detected

Image credits: Scandinaaier

#17 This Country Is Safe

Image credits: FellowOfHorses

#18 Take It From Loen Skylift

Image credits: UAE_Sniper

We also asked Stian what was his most memorable moment while taking pictures in nature. “It was in the summer when we had this whale invasion in the varangerfjord. I saw these fountains blown by tens of humpback whales and fin whales. I watched them feeding and jumping out of the water, just 100 meters from the shoreline. That must be the most memorable moment for me.”