How do people in Iceland and Norway survive?

[Stop_the_War]

I can barely survive the winter here in Florida. LOL.

[candy]

1. They thank God everyday for the Gulf stream,that's how.

Southern Norway isn't as cold as Minnestota and North Dakota.

[Kire]

2. depression is common

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

The feeling of gloom that accompanies shorter days, grey skies and a reduced amount of sunlight affects many thousands of people in the UK to a greater or lesser extent, and in fact gets worth with latitude - Scandinavians are particularly prone, while the disorder is virtually unknown near the equator. If you find that you, or someone you know, is regularly exhibiting the symptoms of depression during the winter months, there's every chance that the person is suffering from SAD. There is a direct link between lack of sunlight and depression in many people. This can be treated quite easily, usually without the need for anti-depressants or therapy.

http://www.depression-cure.co.uk/facts.htm

[On the Road]

3. You Would be Amazed

at how people can adapt. In China, I saw hundreds of people riding bicycles in zero-degree weather. No idea how they can do it.

[KurtNYC]

7. They do that in Canada too

Saw cops on bikes in January.

[Democrat Dragon]

15. Yea, I lived in Palo Alto(which is near San Fransisco)

I recently moved to Beverly Hills recenlty(no not the area with celeberty mansions, the upper-middle class area) and kids at my school compain that it's raining hard outside, but when I go outside to me it's pretty light. I've also gone out with a sleeveless shirt and a light knitted trenchcoat over while my friends layer up with a gloves, scarf, and a bulky padded jacket.

[miss_kitty]

4. Socialist Governments

At least in Norway...Cradle-to-Grave care and services, and the highest standard of living anywhere. I'd live there if I could.

[MASSAFRA]

5. I have a foreign exchange student

from Iceland living with me. He says the winters there are not that bad. They have geothermal heat for their homes.

I was in Florida one year and ran a 5K race in Islamorda. I was surprised that the people from Florida were wearing fleece gloves and jackets before the race started. I was standing around in my shorts and old race t-shirt. People thought I was nuts. Being from Pennsylvania, the weather was warm even if it was just over 40.

[mark414]

6. ha

i was just in san francisco the first 2 weeks of january, where they were having an unseasonably cold winter (in the 40's and 50's)

so walking around, seeing everyone all bundled up with coats and hats and mittens and scarves was hilarious, seeing as how i was walking around with a t-shirt or thin sweatshirt on as my only protection from the elements.

haha if i had a nickel for everytime i heard someone talk about how cold or freezing it was outside my trip would've paid for itself.

but then again i live in wisconsin and have never owned a winter jacket in my life...

ah yes and as other posters have noted, i continue to ride my bike around in the winter time, snow on the ground or otherwise, even in negative temps!

[lfairban]

8. Have you lived there all your life?

I live in Ohio and I used to go down to Florida every winter. We were always amused at the Southerners who would quit driving when a rare snow fell. We are like, "You call this snow? It is barely an inch deep!"

Once I drove my car on the beach at Daytona. I got a little off the path, and got stuck. I got out of my car, looked at my predicament, and said to myself, "This is just like getting stuck in snow, but it isn't cold." In a few minutest I had the tires dug out with my hands and feet, and drove to firmer ground. No problem!

How the people in Alaska do it I have no idea. Guess they are just used to it. And in the winter, the sun hardly shines at all, and when it does, it is low in the sky.

[DBoon]

9. Iceland's winters are milder than Chicago!

*I* wonder how people in Minneapolis survive!

[Shananigans]

12. We are truckin' along this winter!

It actually hasn't been that bad! Only two snow emergencies and some absolutely beautiful days. It's about 15 degrees out right now, but two weeks ago on a Saturday it was 53 degrees! What a crazy winter in Minneapolis!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. Really, I moved back here in 2003 after a 19-year absence

and Minnesota winters ain't what they used to be.

I remember at least a couple of full-scale blizzards every winter and a month of below zero temperatures back in the 1960s and 1970s.

Both the past two winters, we've had very little snow and just a couple of measly days of below-zero temps.

Get this--I bought boots at the beginning of last winter and used them for the first time THIS winter.

[madison2000]

10. Big warm friendly dogs

They work and they cuddle.

[cliss]

11. I was born and grew up in Northern Sweden

(Norrland). The winters were dark; the sun would peek out around 9:00 am and then quickly vanish on the horizon around 3:00 pm. You learn to adapt and live in the dark for several months during the winter.

The winter is cold, but it's not unbearable. Actually, in the northern hemisphere it's a very dry cold, so it doesn't feel as miserable. Here in Oregon, the winters can be bone-chilling because it's a moist, miserable cold. Sweden was better.

I recall seeing the Aurora Borealis one night. It was bitterly cold. I went outside. Had to go to the outhouse; no plumbing inside. An icy cold snow blast blew across my face. I dreaded going out.

I looked up, and through the swirling snow mists, I saw the Northern Lights. It was eerie. Long bands of fluorescent green and yellow snaked their way across the sky. They moved slowly. It was absolutely beautiful - never saw anything like that.

It has its rewards.

[u4ic]

14. From the visit Oslo website:

Winter Nov.-March:
Average temperatures: 0.7°C to –4.3°C (33°F to 24°F)
Min. temperature: –20.7°C (5°F)
Max. temperature: 12.8°C (55°F)

12C in winter??? That's late spring here!

Edmonton's would read something like:

Average temperature -12C
Min temperature: -35C
Max temperature: 5C (on a really, really warm day, maybe three days in a winter)