The Kingdom of Norway is a country located in Northern Europe. The state got its name from an ancient Scandinavian phrase meaning “way to the north.”
Geographic location of Norway
Norway is surrounded by three seas: the Barents, Norwegian and North. This is a rather elongated country, one third of the territory of which is occupied by forests and reservoirs. Over half of it is covered by mountains. Almost the entire coastline of Norway is indented by narrow bays - fjords. The geographical position of Norway can be described by its borders. The country borders on Sweden, Finland and the Russian Federation. Approximately one third of the mainland of the country is located north of the Arctic Circle.
Geographical position of Norway obliges the country to make tourism one of the main types of income.
General information
About 5 million people live in the country.
The form of government here is a constitutional monarchy. The capital of the country where the residence of the king is located is the city of Oslo.
Historical background
The first mention of the state appears at the beginning of our era, when the land of present-day Norway was inhabitedScandinavian tribes who during the Middle Ages decided to sail across the Atlantic.
At the end of the X century, the country began to profess Christianity. After 1380, Norway became subject to Denmark. She was able to free herself from the power of this country only after the Anglo-Danish war of 1807-1814, while falling under the rule of Sweden. Independence was declared on May 17, 1814, followed by a conflict with Sweden, which was decided not in favor of Norway. The country became completely free only by 1905.
During the Second World War, the state of Norway was occupied by fascist invaders, the northern part of it was recaptured by Soviet liberators in the autumn of 1944, and the whole country received freedom on May 8, 1945.
Modernity
Norway is famous for its nature: picturesque coastlines, fabulous fjords, enchanting glaciers, forests, rivers, mountains attract lovers of outdoor activities and landscape tourism from all over the world. The man-made sights of Norway are also very popular, and hundreds of thousands of tourists come here every year to admire the northern lights.
In 2009, the UN presented a report on the quality of life in 182 states, according to which Norway became the leader in the list of the most developed and prosperous countries in the world.
Climate and weather
The climate in the country is cold, there is a lot of precipitation. Most of all in the west of the country in autumn and winter. In the hinterland of the southeastern part of Norway and in the northern regions alsoit often rains. Summer has the most rainfall, while winter and spring are dry.
The geographical position of Norway indicates different climatic conditions in the country. In its western part there is a mild, temperate maritime climate. In July and August, the average temperature at night is 10-12 degrees, during the day - 16-18 degrees. It rains the most in September and October.
In the central part the climate is temperate continental. From October to March, frosty time, in January the temperature can drop to -17 degrees. The warmest month is July.
In the Far North, the climate is subarctic. February is the coldest month, the temperature reaches 22 degrees below zero. The hottest month is July.
Cities
Oslo - the capital of Norway, lying in the depths of a beautiful fjord, on the banks of three bays. The city is surrounded by mountains and hills. Oslo has theaters and concert halls, exhibitions and festivals. The state of Norway (Oslo in particular) also has many museums for every taste.
Bergen is the second most visited city in the country among tourists. The city is called the gate of the Norwegian fjords, it is from here that trips to the fjords often begin.
The city of Røros is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The climate of Røros is harsh, with some of the lowest temperatures in the entire country. All cities in Norway have their own zest. So, Røros is very popular with tourists who come here to enjoy the picturesque lakes, rivers, dense forests and majestic mountains, as well as admire the old woodenbuildings.
The beautiful ancient Norwegian city of Trondheim is famous for its famous landmark - the Cathedral of St. Clement (this is one of the best cathedrals in all of Scandinavia).
The city of Tromsø is called the Paris of the North. This beautiful town is located on an island in northern Norway, surrounded by mountains, fjords and islands. Tromsø is a very lively city with many pubs, street entertainment and cultural events available all year round. The local museum has an exhibition of Sami culture all the time.
Small but very picturesque town of Ålesund is located in the west of the country. It lies on several islets at the mouth of one of the fjords. The city is famous for the stunning nature of the surrounding areas.
Norway's cities are very picturesque and each one has its own unique features.
Norwegian fjords
Travel around the country is not complete without visiting the fjords. Norway has the largest concentration of them in the world.
Fjords in the country lie along the entire coastline. Each of them is amazing in its own way. Norway's deepest fjord is over 1,300 meters deep. Due to the depth of the waters, large liners can ply here, from which tourists admire the stunning scenery.
