Norway is located on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula
in north-western Europe bordering Sweden to the east, Russia
and the Barents Sea at the northeast tip, the North Sea to the
south, and N. Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Travel Insurance for Norway:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Norway
The country reaches
for over one thousand miles, from south at the N. Sea to far
north beyond Russia and the Arctic Circle to the North Cape (Nordkapp)
making it the most northern of all European countries. A large
percentage of the country is not habitable due to arctic tundra
in the north and the presence of glaciers, rugged mountains,
high plateaus and rivers. Norway has over 12,000 miles of rugged
coastline which is broken up and indented by long fjords, and
includes many large and small islands. The highest mountain peak
in the country stands at over 8,000 feet. The Glåma is
the largest river at over 350 miles long.
The Scandinavians are known for their good shipbuilding and
the Vikings of Norway, Denmark and Sweden were able to sail their
seaworthy ships to many foreign lands. Through the centuries,
Norway has had alliances with Denmark and been invaded by Sweden
, but eventually obtained independence from Swedish rule in the
early 1900s and effected peaceful relations by its agreements
with Sweden . Norway remained neutral during WWI but was occupied
by Nazi Germany during most of WWII. Norway became a member of
NATO in 1949 but at the time of writing has not joined the EU.
Norway is also a major oil exporting country.
The population is comprised of Norwegian and Sami (indigenous
people from northern Scandinavia , known for their hunting, fishing,
farming and reindeer herding skills). There are two official
languages of Norway : Bokmål Norwegian and Nynorsk Norwegian,
although English is widely spoken. There are also small communities
of Finnish- and Sami-speaking people. The dominant religion is
Evangelical Lutheran, with some Roman Catholic, Pentecostal,
Christian and others. Norway ’s glaciers are a present-day
reminder of the time of the Ice Age when the glaciers cut their
way through the land leaving the fjords and valleys.
Although Norway would seem to be a bitterly cold country, it
actually enjoys a fairly mild climate considering its latitude,
mainly because of the warming currents from the Gulf of Mexico
. During the summer the days are very long, due to the midnight
sun in the north of the country. Although it is an increasingly
popular tourist destination during the summer months, Norway
is not crowded. The coastal towns on the south coast are popular
destinations, as well as the West Coast fjords with their magnificent
mountains and waterfalls, and the Lofoten islands in northern
Norway , north of the Arctic Circle , where nature lovers would
be awe-struck by the raw beauty.
Norwegians are known as world class athletes in winter sports
and during the winter months Norway has plenty to offer winter
sports enthusiasts. Skiing is the number one sport for Norwegians
who are spoilt for choice in places to enjoy their sport. Cross-country
skiing remains very popular with locals as well as ski-jumping,
but downhill skiing, Telemark skiing and skating are also widely
available as well as ice-hockey, bobsleigh and tobogganing.
Norway is a beautiful holiday destination in summer too and
its spectacular scenery, fjords and beaches make it perfect for
hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, canoeing and fishing,
to name just a few. For avid golfers there is 24-hour golfing
and midnight golfing during the summer months.
The capital and largest city, Oslo , is the main port for Norway
and the major commercial centre. In the 16 th century the city
had to be rebuilt following a serious fire and it was renamed
Christiania but the name officially changed back to Oslo in 1925.
Many medieval buildings have survived, including a 13 th C fortress
and remains of Oslo ’s first cathedral. It is a modern
and sophisticated city with lovely parks containing sculptures
and artwork. A large number of the population lives in the area
of the Oslo Fjord.
Oslo has plenty of culture, including its museums, churches,
parks, National Gallery, Royal Palace and its Viking museum,
which has several Viking long boats on display. |
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