Norway

The Land of Magnificent Fjords, Cultured Land and Ageless Beauty

Norway, which is characterized by such natural beauty as its fjords, Northern Lights, and snowy mountains, is also one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world. Norway is a great place to travel as it is full of the history of Vikings, colorful cultural heritage and breath taking nature. As you visit Oslo or hike in the Lofoten Islands, or get thrilled by the beauty of the Northern Lights, Norway is the country that will leave you amazed and eager to visit it again.

look at its Wikipedia site to see its detailed history as well as general information. To get the official resource and news visit the official site of Norway

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Geographical Location

Norway finds its location in Northern Europe on the western part of Scandinavian Peninsula. It is flanked by Sweden on the east and Finland on the northeast and Russia far northeast. On the west Norway is a long coastline on the North Atlantic Ocean, where some of the most well known fjords in the world are found, the Geirangerfjord and the Sognefjord.

Norway has been characterized by rough topography comprising of mountains, glaciers and coasts. The country extends to more than 148,000 square miles, which is one of the large counties in Europe. It also has the Svalbard archipelago in the arctic ocean that provides some even more amazing Arctic sceneries.

Natural Features and landforms

Norway is well known by fjords – narrow and deep water inlets bounded by high cliffs, which were formed as a result of glacial erosion. The Western Fjord Region, contains the most renowned fjords; Geirangerfjord, and Hardangerfjord are both UNESCO World Herbertage sites.

Alongside fjords, Norway has huge ranges of mountains like the Scandes, which stretches all through the country, and one can always have hiking, skiing and mountaineering. The Svalbard archipelago of Norway is an area full of glaciers, ice caps and the arctic wildlife found here thanks to this very wild and icy climate.

Climate

The climate in Norway differs with the location. The Gulf stream is a warm stream that makes the coastal regions, especially in the west, have a mild and marine climate. This makes winters in such cities as Bergen rather mild in spite of the fact that the country is located in the north. On the contrary, the inland and northern areas have cold winters and cool summers, Arctic conditions prevailing in Svalbard.

Summertime (June to August) is the best time to go to Norway to do outdoor activities since weather is mild during this period and the daylight hours are very long. Best times to view the Northern Lights and to take part in winter sports in the Norwegian Alps are in the winter months (December to February).

Viking History and Medieval History

The history of Norway is strongly connected to Viking Age that occurred between the 8th and 11th century. A good number of ships belonging to the Viking people sailed the propensity to explore and their origin was in modern-day Norway, something that was evident in contemporary Norway culture. There was the settlement of Vikings on Iceland, Greenland and some parts of North America and helped in defining the European history.

Viking tradition, archaeology, Viking ships and artifacts are captured in places like Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. The medieval era also witnessed the emergence of Norwegian Kingdom which later been merged with Denmark and Sweden through various unions.

Modern Development And Norwegian Independence

Norway was politically integrated with Denmark in the years 1380 to 1814, and unionized with Sweden until 1905. Norway became totally independent in 1905 and had its monarchy and government. Norway emerged a social democratic and modern country with progressive policies in healthcare reforms, education, and gender equality in the 20th century.

During the Second World War Norway was occupied by the Nazi Germany but following the liberation in 1945 the country gained back its sovereignty and started rebuilding. Norway is now one of the richest countries in the world, earning this status in the second half of the 20th century when it was blessed with large stocks of oil and gas in the North Sea.

Modern-Day Norway

Norway today is a country that boasts of having high standard of living, being environment friendly and green. It is a member of all the international organizations such as the United Nation, NATO, and leads in global environment and humanitarian actions. Norwegian economy still relies on oil, yet Norway is a world leader in the area of renewable energy, and much investment has been unfolded in hydroelectric power and wind power.

Racial and Religious diversity

Norway is an ethnically majority Norwegian state, yet it does harbor Sami people, who have inhabited northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia since thousands of years. The Sami culture is a unique surrounding of the Norwegian heritage, having its language, the tradition, and the attachment to reindeer farming.

Norway is mostly Christian, Lutheran Protestant as a rule, the largest 92 percent being the Norwegian Church. But we also have an increase in the number of Muslims, Roman Catholics and other religious organizations.

Traditions and practices Cultural

The Norwegian culture is nature oriented and the outdoor that includes hiking, skiing, and fishing is also integrated into the life of people. Midsummer, or the summer solstice, is celebrated by Norway through festivals and customs, and Christmas is commemorated with family get-together, traditional native food and Norwegian Christmas markets.

The Norwegian food is founded on plain complexion of ingredients like fish, potatoes, and milk. Other traditional fare is rakfisk (fermented fish), klippfisk (dried cod) and lutefisk (dried fish re-constituted in a lye solution). Norwegian treats, including, kransekake (necklace-shaped almond cake), and skillingsboller (cinnamon rolls) are also favourites.

Language

Norway The official language of Norway is Norwegian, and the country has two official written variants of Norwegian Bokmali and Nynorsk. Although Norwegian is the favored or dominant language, many Norwegians speak more than one language, especially the Swedish and Danish language which is closely related to Norwegian language.

Religious Festivals

Norway has two of its major religious holidays Christmas and Easter. Christmas is season of relatives, special lunches that include such pollution as ribbe (pork) and lutefisk. Family get-together and spring outdoor activities such as skiing are also involved in celebrating Easter.

Special Days and National Holidays

Consecutively, the most significant national holiday in Norway is the Constitution Day (17. May), marking the day on which the Norwegian Constitution was signed in 1814. It is celebrated through parades, festivals and community events and more especially on children and families.

Economic Development

The economy of Norway is one of the richest in the entire world and is propelled heavily through oil and natural gas deposits located in the North Sea. One of the largest in the world is the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth Fund that is funded by the oil revenues and is destined to the future generations.

The country is also a leader in sustainability and green technology with its main target being renewable energy and more so hydroelectric power and wind energy. Other major contributors to the Norwegian economy include fishing, tourism as well as manufacturing.

Tourism

The trend in Norway is the significance of tourism in the country, and tourists are rushing to the country to view their beautiful fjords, mountains, and Northern Lights. Such cities as Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim present both modern architecture and museums and historic locations.

Norway Attractions You Cannot Miss

These are six places that you should not miss in Norway:

1. Geirangerfjord

Geirangerfjord is a gorgeous natural phenomenon in Norway that is designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The fjord can be explored through boat as visitors also get to experience plunging cliffs, cascading rivers, and snow-capped mountains.

2. The Nordic Lights

Norway happens to be among the best regions on the globe where one can observe the Northern Lights. The lights are visible in other places such as Tromso; Alta and Svalbard.

3. Lofoten Islands

Educational Lofoten Islands boast of the dramatic landscapes, dramatic mountains, white sandy beaches as well as the traditional fishing villages. The islands present great hiking, kayaking and wildlife spotting opportunities.

4. Oslo

Oslo, the capital city, has an excellent cultural life hosting such attractions as the Viking Ship Museum, National Gallery, and marvelous Oslo Opera House. The city has also green areas, one of which is Vigeland Park.

5. Sognefjord

The longest and the deepest fjord of Norway, Sognefjord, is the destination with the most amazing views the country can offer. Jagged mountains, glaciers and quaint hamlets such as Flam surround the fjord.

6. Bergen

Bergen, also called the Gateway to the Fjords, is renowned because of its old town that is a UNESCO listed world heritage site, the Bryggen. It is the cultural and artistic center of the country, and this city is the center of Norwegian history.

Healthcare System

Norway has one of the best universal health care systems and is able to avail medical care to all people. The medical facilities and efficient emergency services the country is associated with are well developed.

Education System

Norway has been providing free access to education and education is considered as equality and sustainable. Some of the good colleges that can be found in the country include University of Oslo and Norwegian School of Economics.

Transport Network

Norway has a great transport system; there are numerous road system, trains and ferries system. Its primary international airport is the Oslo Airport alongside the Norwegian Rail network that links most of the country main cities together.

Urban Development

The cities of Norway are modern with a tint of historic buildings and focus more on green lifestyle and sustainability. Bergen and Oslo lead in urban planning, the development of the environment, as well as investments in environmental protection.

Ideal Seasons

June to August is the ideal season to make a visit to Norway because weather is warm, and Midnight Sun can be seen in the north. December to February is the best time to enjoy winter activities (skiing and watch the Northern Lights).

Special Events And Festivals

Some of the high profile events that are worth attending in Norway include the Bergen International Festival, the Oslo Jazz Festival and the Sami National Day.

Concluding: Future of Norway

Norway remains the star performer in sustainability, innovation and cultural conservation. Due to its breathtaking sceneries, fascinating history and promise of advancement, Norway continues to be a long-prospected destination worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the right time to visit Norway?

Summer (June to August) is the best time to come in case of outdoor activities or winter (December to February) in case of skiing and Northern Lights.

What are the Norway highlights?

The best tourist sites are Geirangerfjord, Northern Lights, Lofoten Islands, Oslo, Sognefjord as well as Bergen.

Which languages are used in Norway?

The main language is Norwegian and four English is spoken widely.

Is Norway tourist friendly?

Indeed, Norway is a safe tourist country as its crime rate is rather low, and there is a friendly environment.

Which are cultural festivals that I can attend in Norway?

Norway has the Oslo Jazz Festival, the Bergen International Festival and the Sami National Day to be experienced as cultural events in Norway.