NORDKAPP NORWAY

Distinction: Northernmost road in EuropeThe ancient island called Mageroya, 1300 miles north of Oslo, Norway, was an isolated habitat for more than 10,000 years. Then one day the Norwegian government recognized the value of tourism in its Arctic Ocean frontier, and in 1976 built a paved road and tunnel under the sea allowing cars to reach the island.The road is called E69, it winds up to Nordkapp, a 1000 foot tall cliff on Mageroya overlooking the Arctic Ocean. Folks weve spoken to who have driven highway E69 to Nordkapp describe it as a fast, modern two lane highway that promotes fast drivinguntil theres a patch of black ice or compressed snow on the tarmac. Then its easy to slide into a ditch, reports one traveler we spoke with who had rolled a Saab sedan after sliding off the snow covered road on the way back south from Nordkapp. Nordkapp is at the very top of Europe, well beyond the Arctic Circle, yet it is relatively mild because of the Gulf Stream and gets only a few feet of snow during the five winter months.