Norway, one of the Nordic countries
The adjective Nordic is used to describe something originating from northern Europe or linked to that region . The term can also be used as a noun.
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries are traditionally considered to be five: Sweden , Norway , Iceland , Finland and Denmark . This group is joined by entities with a certain degree of autonomy, such as the Faroe Islands and Greenland .
The Nordic countries cover an area of almost 3.5 million square kilometres , with a population of just over 26 million . Much of the territory is made up of icebergs and ice caps, which means that many areas are uninhabitable.
Despite their differences, the Nordic countries share cultural traits, historical elements and social characteristics. These nations regularly rank at the top of international rankings for quality of life, economic development and educational attainment. Thus, despite the harsh geographical conditions and inclement weather, they are very favourable places to live.
Germanic languages
The Germanic languages spoken in this part of Europe are also referred to as Nordic. Icelandic , Danish , Swedish and Norwegian are Nordic languages .
They are also known as Scandinavian or North Germanic languages and are companions to two other branches, the West Germanic and East Germanic languages, all part of the Indo-European languages. They originate from Old Norse and Proto-Norse and, beyond Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, they are also spoken in Finland, Australia and North America, although by a very small percentage of the population.
Nordic skiing
Nordic skiing , on the other hand, is a type of skiing that is characterized by not requiring the heel of the boot to be attached to the base . This clearly differentiates it from alpine skiing.
As a sport, Nordic skiing is considered gentle, because it does not require any joint impact and has a low risk of injury . All this makes it very suitable for athletes who are in a recovery phase and do not want to stop practising, but also for anyone who loves snow and wants to ski while admiring the scenery.
Today, there are five main types of Nordic skiing, as there are more: ski jumping , cross-country skiing , Nordic combined , telemark and biathlon . In many cases, the first two are used interchangeably, although this is not technically correct.
Nordic skiing is ideal for appreciating the landscape.
Nordic decoration
Finally, Nordic decoration is identified with luminosity, the predominance of white and the use of wood. This style seeks to get closer to nature by including images or figures of animals , pine cones and other elements. The importance of luminosity in this decorative style arose precisely because of the scarcity of natural light in the Nordic countries, in addition to the length and harshness of winter days.
Other characteristics of Nordic decoration are functionality over appearance, something that also has an impact on its undeniable minimalism. Let's say that curves are not abundant, but are used mainly when necessary, so we will not find flowery ornaments but angular edges and flat surfaces that make the most of the available space and reflect light more effectively . The colors are not arbitrary or noisy either, since they must be combined with the materials to enhance the luminosity of the rooms. The use of those that absorb the most light is only done to create a balance with the opposites, but never as the predominant or exclusive option.