Royal palace overlooks pedestrians and shops along Karl Johans Gate street in Oslo, Norway.

Night overview of commercial harbor in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Modernist sculpture of traveler with suitcase stands outside Thon Hotel Opera in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Modernist sculpture of ball of foot stands outside central train station in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Locals and tourists fill pedestrian mall on a warm, sunny June day in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Locals and tourists fill outdoor cafes on a warm, sunny June day in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Patrons enjoy outdoor cafe on a warm, sunny June day in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Stylish woman chooses through blouses for sale on rack outside shop in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Young parents with baby and pram walk along waterfront plaza in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Pug on leash pauses beside owner in gold tennis shoes; Oslo, Norway.

Attractive Norwegian woman with long blond hair holds young daughter in her arms; Oslo, Norway.

Young couple embraces outside Oslo Opera House; Oslo, Norway.

Lone man with briefcase walks outside Oslo Opera House; Oslo, Norway.

Night view of modernistic Oslo Opera House in downtown Oslo, Norway.

New Oslo Opera House, shaped like ship, overlooks Bjorvika harbor in downtown Oslo, Norway.

New Oslo Opera House, shaped like ship, overlooks Bjorvika harbor in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Opera House's main atrium protrudes like giant glass jewel box from sloped concrete plaza surrounding it; Oslo, Norway.

Tourists explore newly-opened Oslo Opera House in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Tourists explore newly-opened Oslo Opera House in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Tourists enjoy view from atop rooftop plaza of newly-opened Opera House in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Norwegian wood and floor to ceiling glass blend inside atrium of modernistic Opera House; Oslo, Norway.

Geometry of steel and concrete dwarfs visitors outside modernistic Oslo Opera House; Oslo, Norway.

Braille-like facades loom over rooftop plazas at modernistic Oslo Opera House; Oslo, Norway.

Braille-like facades loom over rooftop plazas at modernistic Oslo Opera House; Oslo, Norway.

Braille-like facades loom glimmer in sun at modernistic Oslo Opera House; Oslo, Norway.

Braille-like facades loom over rooftop plazas at modernistic Oslo Opera House; Oslo, Norway.

Visitors swarm over plazas outside and atop modernistic Oslo Opera House in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Visitors swarm over plazas outside and atop modernistic Oslo Opera House in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Windowed atrium silhouettes visitors inside modernistic Oslo Opera House in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Reflection of ferry boat in windows of modernistic Oslo Opera House creates illusion of entire ship; Oslo, Norway.

Reflection of ferry boat in windows of modernistic Oslo Opera House creates illusion of entire ship; Oslo, Norway.

Reflection of ferry boat in windows of modernistic Oslo Opera House creates illusion of entire ship; Oslo, Norway.

People enjoy shopping, dining and sightseeing on Aker Brygge wharf; Oslo, Norway.

Figurehead of maiden adorns prow of the venerable windjammer Christian Radich; Oslo, Norway.

Sign adorns ticket office of the windjammer, Christian Radich, now a charter tour boat in downtown Oslo, Norway.

Black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) perches on rail at Bygdoy ferry dock; Oslo, Norway.

Viking Ship Museum features 1100-year-old long ship; Bygdoy Island, Oslo, Norway.

Bow of 1100-year-old long ship at Viking Ship Museum looms skyward; Bygdoy Island, Oslo, Norway.

Hull of 1100-year-old long ship at Viking Ship Museum on Bygdoy Island; Oslo, Norway.

Fram Museum displays the actual polar ship Fram, sailed to both poles at turn of last century; Bygdoy, Oslo, Norway.

Intake funnels aboard polar ship Fram, sailed to both poles at turn of last century; Bygdoy; Oslo, Norway.

Original brass bell aboard expedition ship Fram, which sailed to both poles at turn of last century; Fram Museum, Oslo, Norway.

Outdoor gear and rifles in cabin of the polar ship Fram, which sailed to poles at turn of last century; Fram Museum, Oslo, Norway.

Rifles and expedition gear in cabin of polar ship Fram, which sailed to poles at turn of last century; Fram Museum, Oslo, Norway.

Viking style carving aboard expedition ship Fram, which sailed to both poles at turn of last century; Oslo, Norway.

Thor Heyerdahl's original papyrus boat, Ra II, sailed across Atlantic in 1970; Kon-Tiki Museum, Bygdoy, Oslo, Norway.

Buildings of all eras line streets of Norsk Folkemuseum outdoor culture park on Bygdoy Island; Oslo, Norway.

Reconstructed petrol station features antique gas pumps at Norsk Folkemuseum outdoor culture park on Bygdoy Island; Oslo, Norway.

Carved doorposts of centuries-old wooden building at Norsk Folkemuseum outdoor culture park on Bygdoy Island; Oslo, Norway.

Visitors enjoy buggy ride at Norsk Folkemuseum outdoor culture park on Bygdoy Island; Oslo, Norway.

Woman mixes pastry dough inside old bakery at Norsk Folkemuseum outdoor culture park on Bygdoy Island; Oslo, Norway.

Woman rolls pastry dough inside old bakery at Norsk Folkemuseum outdoor culture park on Bygdoy Island; Oslo, Norway.

Norwegian fjord horses, or fjordings, graze at Norsk Folkemuseum outdoor culture park on Bygdoy Island; Oslo, Norway.

Akershus Fortress, or castle; Oslo, Norway.

Towering steeple in inner courtyard of Akershus Fortress, or castle; Oslo, Norway.

Royal guards patrol Akershus Fortress, or castle; Oslo, Norway.

Royal guards patrol Akershus Fortress, or castle; Oslo, Norway.

Royal guards patrol Akershus Fortress, or castle; Oslo, Norway.

Roses grace entrance to Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Roses grace entrance to Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Roses grace entrance to Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Visitors swarm across main plaza to central fountains and monolith of Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Granite sculptures depict humanity, strife, friendship and love at center of Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Granite sculptures depict humanity, strife, friendship and love at center of Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Granite sculptures depict humanity, strife, friendship and love at center of Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Central 18-meter (60') granite monolith features cycle of life through 121 figures; Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Granite sculpture depicts mother giving children pony ride at center of Vigeland Sculpture Park; Oslo, Norway.

Granite sculpture depicts elderly mother entreating grown son to listen; Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway.

Granite sculpture depicts to pensive elderly women; Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway.

Granite sculpture depicts bullies wrestling boy to ground; Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway.

Bronze sculpture depicts young man playfully swinging girlfriend into air; Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway.

Bronze sculpture depicts father playfully swinging young son in air; Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway.

Bronze sculpture depicts mother cuddling baby; Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway.

Sculpture depicts two women sharing intimate moment; Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway.

Colorfully painted buildings brighten Arctic landscape of downtown Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; Svalbard; Norway.

Colorfully painted homes brighten white and gray Arctic landscape of town of Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; Svalbard; Norway.

Colorfully painted homes brighten white and gray Arctic landscape of town of Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; Svalbard; Norway.

Colorfully painted buildlings brighten white and gray Arctic landscape of town of Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; Svalbard; Norway.

Coal miner statue honors mining history in Arctic town of Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; Svalbard; Norway.

Midnight sun shines bright over Adventfjorden in July at Longyearbyen; Svalbard, Norway.

Mantle of snow and ice shrouds distant snowy peaks on a July midnight in Isfjorden opposite town of Longyearbyen, Svalbard; Norway.

Norwegian coast guard crew transports King's Bay chairman Knut Ore to land from icebreaker, KV Svalbard; Longyearbyen Svalbard, Norway.

Norwegian coast guard crew transports King's Bay chairman Knut Ore to land from icebreaker, KV Svalbard; Longyearbyen Svalbard, Norway.

Norwegian coast guard officers pilot icebreaker, KV Svalbard, from its hi-tech bridge off the west coast of Svalbard, Norway.

Norwegian coast guard officers pilot icebreaker, KV Svalbard, from its hi-tech bridge off the west coast of Svalbard, Norway.

Hurtigruten cruise ship, MS Nordstjernen, sits in quiet bay of Magdalenafjorden on Spitsbergen's west coast in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Hurtigruten cruise ship, MS Nordstjernen, anchors in front of Lilliehook Glacier on Spitsbergen's west coast in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Lifeboat aboard Hurtigruten cruise ship, MS Nordstjernen, in front of Lilliehook Glacier on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Crewman pilots skiff near Hurtigruten cruise ship, MS Nordstjernen, on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Crewman pilots skiff near Hurtigruten cruise ship, MS Nordstjernen, on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers on aft deck of Hurtigruten cruise ship, MS Nordstjernen, celebrate reaching 80th parallel in Arctic Ocean off western Svalbard, Norway.

GPS device indicates position of Hurtigruten cruise ship, MS Nordstjernen, at 80th parallel in Arctic Ocean off western Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen take boat tour of Lilliehook Glacier's five-mile-wide mouth on Arctic Ocean; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen take boat tour of Lilliehook Glacier's five-mile-wide mouth on Arctic Ocean; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen take boat tour of Lilliehook Glacier's five-mile-wide mouth on Arctic Ocean; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen take boat tour of Lilliehook Glacier's five-mile-wide mouth on Arctic Ocean; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen bathe in Arctic Ocean; Magdalenafjorden, Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen bathe in Arctic Ocean; Magdalenafjorden, Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen bathe in Arctic Ocean; Magdalenafjorden, Svalbard, Norway.

Orange trapper's hut called Lloyd's Hotel sits on rocky headland of Regnardneset in Mollerfjorden; Krossfjorden, Svalbard, Norway.

Tour guide stands outside orange trapper's hut called Lloyd's Hotel at Regnardneset headland; Krossfjorden, Svalbard, Norway.

Gifts of food and drink from decades of visitors line shelves of trapper's hut called Lloyd's Hotel in Mollerfjorden; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen hike Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen hike Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen explore Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen explore Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen explore Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen explore Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Guide from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen leads tour of Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Guide from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen dresses warmly for chilly July weather; Svalbard, Norway.

Arctic guide lectures passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen during shore walk; Mollerfjorden, Svalbard, Norway.

Guide from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen talks about beluga whale skeleton on shores of Mollerfjorden; Svalbard, Norway.

Guide from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen talks about beluga whale skeleton on shores of Mollerfjorden; Svalbard, Norway.

Child passengers from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen play in snow in July on Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden; Svalbard, Norway.

Elderly couple from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen walk snowy Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Elderly couple from Hurtigruten's MV Nordstjernen walk snowy Arctic shores of Magdalenafjorden in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Moss campion (Silene acaulis) wildflowers brighten gray Arctic landscape of Mollerfjorden on Spitsbergen's west coast in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Moss campion (Silene acaulis) wildflowers brighten gray Arctic landscape of Mollerfjorden on Spitsbergen's west coast in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Moss campion (Silene acaulis) wildflowers brighten gray Arctic landscape of Mollerfjorden on Spitsbergen's west coast in July; Svalbard, Norway.

Black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) flock atop icebergs at Lilliehook Glacier in western Svalbard, Norway.

Black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) flock atop icebergs at Lilliehook Glacier in western Svalbard, Norway.

Sun and shadows dance across snow and ice of Lilliehook Glacier on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Sun and shadows dance across snow and ice of Lilliehook Glacier on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Snowy peaks loom behind LilIiehook Glacier on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Massive blue walls of Lilliehook Glacier tower over calm seas of Arctic Ocean in western Spitsbergen; Svalbard, Norway.

Seabirds flock near massive walls of Lilliehook Glacier to feed on fish driven to surface by calving ice; Svalbard, Norway.

Black smoke billows from power plant against virgin Arctic snows of western Spitsbergen at Russian coal mining village of Barentsburg; Svalbard, Norway.

Coal and dilapidated buildings line shore of Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining village on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Coal and dilapidated buildings line shore of Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining village on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Soviet-era buildings and murals fill Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining village on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Soviet-era mural honoring Russian Arctic explorer on restaurant in Barentsburg, Russian coal mining village on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Soviet-era signs on old restaurant building in Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining village on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Soviet-era mural honors proletariat workers on old building in Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining village on Spitsbergen's west coast; Svalbard, Norway.

Stacked cargo containers create collage near wharves of Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining village on Spitsbergen's west coast Svalbard, Norway.

Soviet-era wharf building on docks of Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining village on west coast of Spitsbergen; Svalbard, Norway.

Black-legged kittiwakes nest atop windows of Soviet-era building in Barentsburg, Russian coal mining town in western Spitsbergen; Svalbard, Norway.

Black-legged kittiwakes nest atop windows of Soviet-era building in Barentsburg, Russian coal mining town in western Spitsbergen; Svalbard, Norway.

Black-legged kittiwakes nest atop windows of Soviet-era building in Barentsburg, Russian coal mining town in western Spitsbergen; Svalbard, Norway.

Man in leather jacket opens door of blue wooden building in Russian coal mining town of Barentsburg; Svalbard, Norway.

Two construction workers rehab dilapidated building in Russian coal mining town of Barentsburg; Svalbard, Norway.

Bearded man walks along wharves of Barentsburg, a Russian coal mining town on west coast of Spitsbergen; Svalbard, Norway.

Stylish local woman contrasts with drab surroundings of Barentsburg, Russian coal mining town on west coast of Spitsbergen; Svalbard, Norway.

Stylish local woman contrasts with drab surroundings of Barentsburg, Russian coal mining town on west coast of Spitsbergen; Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe sings and dances on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe sings and dances on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe woman dances on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe couple dances on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe sings and dances on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe sings and dances on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe dances on stage in a blur; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe women in bright costumes dance on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe woman dances on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.

Russian folk troupe woman wears ornate tiara as she sings on stage; Barentsburg, Svalbard, Norway.