Norway Travel Guide - Facts on Norway

History		Top of Page
	Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav Tryggvason in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that was to last for more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Norway remained neutral in World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II. Nevertheless, it was not able to avoid a five-year occupation by Nazi Germany (1940-1945). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic Coordinates	62 00 N, 10 00 E
Area	total: 323,802 sq km land: 307,442 sq km water: 16,360 sq km
Area - Comparative	Slightly larger than New Mexico
Land Boundaries	total: 2,542 km border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km
Coastline	25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 22,498 km; length of island coastlines 58,133 km)
Climate	Temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain	Glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
Elevation Extremes	Lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m Highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
Natural Resources	Petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower
Geography Note	About two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world
Natural hazards	Rockslides, avalanches
People		Top of Page
Population	4,627,926 (July 2007 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 19% (male 450,612/female 430,126) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,552,473/female 1,507,638) 65 years and over: 14.8% (male 291,659/female 395,418) (2007 est.)
Nationality	Noun: Norwegian(s) Adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic Groups	Norwegian, Sami 20,000
Religions	Evangelical Lutheran 86% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, other 1%, none and unknown 10% (1997)
Language	Norwegian (official) Note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy	Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 100%

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway Conventional short form: Norway Local short form: Norge Local long form: Kongeriket Norge
Government Type	Constitutional monarchy
Capital	Oslo
Administrative Divisions	19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Independence	7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved; 26 October 1905 Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union
Flag Description	Red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector, through large-scale state enterprises. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, as a member of the European Economic Area, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. The government has moved ahead with privatization. Although Norwegian oil production peaked in 2000, natural gas production is still rising. Norwegians realize that once their gas production peaks they will eventually face declining oil and gas revenues; accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-and-gas-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $250 billion. After lackluster growth of less than 1% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up to 3-4% in 2004-06. Norway's economy remains buoyant. Domestic economic activity is, and will continue to be, the main driver of growth, supported by high consumer confidence and strong investment spending in the offshore oil and gas
Currency	Norwegian krone
Currency Code	NOK
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular mobile systems instead of fixed-wire systems international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)
Internet Country Code	.no
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	total: 4,077 km standard gauge: 4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,680 km electrified) (2005)
Highways	total: 92,513 km paved: 71,832 km (includes 664 km of expressways) unpaved: 20,681 km (2005)
Waterways	1,577 km (2002)
Ports and Terminals	Borg Havn, Bergen, Mo i Rana, Molde, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture
Norway:	Travel Information Best Places to Visit Other Countries Top of Page

		Norway
		Travel Information Best Places to Visit Other Countries
	Norway Travel guide: Facts on Norway
History Geography People Economy Communications Transportation
Map of Norway and its major cities

Norway Travel guide:

Facts on Norway